Duterte may still change mind, run for president in 2016 – political adviser

There's still a chance of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte changing his mind and run fore president in 2016.

 

"Masama namang magsalita nang tapos sa mundo," Duterte's political adviser Lito Banayo told GMA News Online when asked if the mayor's decision that he is not running for president in 2016 is indeed final.

 

Banayo was repeating Duterte's statement during a TV5 forum on Thursday, where the mayor was asked if he really is not running for president.

 

On Monday, Duterte announced that he will retire from politics in 2016.

 

"I would like to categorically state now... na di ako tatakbong president," Duterte said. "Wala akong ambisyon mag-presidente."

 

Even before Monday's declaration, Duterte repeatedly said that he never wanted to be a president.

 

Ayaw ko talaga. Ayaw ng pamilya ko pati iyong anak ko na mayor and she's vocal about it," Duterte told an audience of businessmen at the ASIA CEO Forum in Makati City last June.

 

In a Social Weather Stations presidential preference survey released in June, Duterte ranked fourth, just one percentage point behind Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who got 21 percent.

 

Meanwhile, Banayo said that he was not aware if Roxas has made a formal offer to Duterte to run as his running mate in 2016.

 

Roxas said on Friday that he will talk to Duterte and aks the mayor if he could be his running mate.

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/536550/news/nation/duterte-in-mar-roxas-short-list-for-vp-bet-in-2016

 

Banayo said he was sure that Duterte would turn down the offer.

 

"If they do offer, he will not accept. He is very clear about that," he added. —ALG, GMA News