Mayor Duterte says presidential run ‘now on the table’

(Updated 8:36 a.m.) Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday that, given the Senate Electoral Tribunal's (SET's) decision to dismiss the disqualification case against Sen. Grace Poe, he has changed his mind and is now running for the presidency in 2016.

"Basta ako on the table 'yan. I am running for president (sic) because i am so disappointed and sad sa ruling na yan,” Duterte explained during a private birthday party in Dasmariñas City, Cavite. “Grace can run for governor, mayor, I am willing to vacate my position, bigay ko sa kanya. Pero wag yung presidente."

Mayor Duterte confirms his candidacy for President is now on the table because of SET ruling. | @BamAlegre_ @gmanews pic.twitter.com/xUY5w08Bnl

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) November 21, 2015

The mayor's new position was in contrast to his earlier pronouncements that he had no intention of running for president. Even during Saturday night's event, Duterte enumerated the reasons why he did not want to be president, which included his cancer-stricken wife's wishes and the lack of money for a national campaign.

However, all this was trumped by the SET's decision.

Nevertheless, Duterte emphasized that his decision was not a personal attack against Poe. Rather, it was a matter of principle for him to ensure that only natural born Filipino should be allowed to run.

"You cheapen the presidency. It's important for everybody. You don't cheapen it by the interpretation of a treaty. In the first place, we're not a signatory. Second, it's a presumption so you have a presumptive citizen running the affairs of government. Ay, mahirap yan," said Duterte during an ambush intervew.

Next steps

Duterte admitted that his party, the PDP-Laban, was still unaware of his reversal, and he intended to talk to the party and its president - Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.

The mayor also denied that the Martin-Diño candidacy, which was withdrawn late October, was a pre-planned tactic.

"Hindi, kasi they were frantic. They thought they can convince me and time limit was 5 o'clock,” Duterte clarified. “Everybody was thinking I was around and sinabi sumakay ako eroplano so yung paghabol yun sa oras on that day."

After speaking with his party, the next step for Duterte would be the filing of his candidacy.

He also needed to convice his daughter Sara Duterte to run for Davao City's mayor in his stead.

Tandem

As to whether Senator Allan Peter Cayetano would be Duterte's running mate given that a television advertisement featuring Duterte and Cayetano had been airing regularly even before the mayor's about-face, Duterte said, "It's a loose alliance actually. He's a friend and he's been putting propaganda katabi kami, I don't mind. He can use. He has the opportunity to place my name in tandem.

“He will help me and I will help him. Whoever has a partnership is a mutual thing. You dont go kung walang pinagsamahan. I've been supporting the Cayetano. Di lang siya. Tatay pa niya."

Cayetano, who was also present at the Saturday night event and was with Duterte earlier in the day in Iloilo for a speaking engagement, said that he was glad that Duterte changed his mind.

He also took the opportunity to take jabs at their potential election opponents.

"Simple lang ang choice: 'di natural born, natural born na mabagal, natural born na magnanakaw, at natural born na may malasakit at tapang. So mamili na ang tao," said Cayetano.  — DVM, GMA News