Filtered By: Topstories
News

Duterte 'resisting' VP run: It's difficult


"Mahirap 'yan."

President Rodrigo Duterte said he was not keen on running for vice president, despite calls by his party PDP-Laban to run for the second highest post in the land in Eleksyon 2022.

In an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City aired on Tuesday evening, Duterte said he is resisting overtures from his partymates, saying he is ready for retirement.

"Mahirap 'yan pastor kasi mag-retire na ko tapos this time ako ang mamili ng presidente," Duterte said.

[This is difficult as I will be retiring soon, and this time I’ll be choosing my successor for president.]

"'Pag manalo sabihin nila ano ko lang yan, perpetuate yourself in power so nagre-resist ako," he added.

[If I win they'll say I'm perpetuating myself in power so I'm resisting it.]

Earlier, Duterte said that he will consider the advice of people telling him not to run in 2022 while he was still mulling over his decision.

PDP-Laban resolution

The PDP-Laban national council on Monday adopted a resolution urging Duterte to run for vice president in Eleksyon 2022

The resolution also urged Duterte, the party chairman, to choose his running mate for president in the 2022 polls.

PDP-Laban president Senator Manny Pacquiao prior to the council meeting asked party members not to attend, saying it was not authorized.

Duterte later gave his go-ahead for the council meeting.

Pacquiao has since said that he was hoping to meet Duterte to discuss ways on how to strengthen their party.

"I'm hoping to meet with the chairman of the party to discuss our party, so we can discuss and I also have suggestions and proposals to strengthen the party," Pacquiao said in a  mix of Filipino and English.

'Ready for retirement'

Duterte also told Quiboloy that he is ready for retirement.

“I’m ready for retirement, but if you ask me what is my greatest achievement, in a very humble way, ako pastor, I exposed the oligarchy in the Philippines,” he said.

The president cited the issue of the concession agreements with water companies Maynilad and Manila Water that contained provisions that were allegedly disadvantageous to both the government and the public.

“Sabi ko nga ‘yung kontrata nila, i-harap mo sa anti-graft law, parehong-pareho... Di ako pumayag eh. Kung meron man akong ipagyabang is, sabi ko ‘yung mga oligarchs na binibigyan ng kapangyarihan na sobra-sobra,” he said.

[I said if you put their contracts in front of the anti-graft law, there’s no difference, it’s the same… I didn’t accept. If I can boast about something, it’s the oligarchs that were given too much power.]

Manila Water and Maynilad have signed new concession agreements. —Joahna Lei Casilao/NB/BM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT