Tugade says decision to run in Eleksyon 2022 will rely on Duterte

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday said any possibility of him running in next year's elections will be based on the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Asked if he was considering running for an elected position in the 2022 polls, Tugade gave a general answer and said he is now focused on finishing the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) projects.

"Ang Presidente ho ang magde-decide niyan [The President will decide on that]. Ako [Me], I am a good soldier and the President is a very good commander-in-chief," he said in a virtual briefing.

"What the President says, so it will go. As far as I am concerned, I am a soldier," he elaborated.

Tugade, a classmate of Duterte at the San Beda College of Law, was appointed as Transportation secretary in 2016.

Under his leadership, Tugade moved the main offices of the DOTr to Clark

"Hanggang wala pang sinasabi ang ating Pangulo, magtrabaho tayo. Gabayan ninyo kami, tulungan niyo kami, inspire us to finish our job," said Tugade.

[Until the President has not announced anything, we will continue to work. Guide us, help us, inspire us to finish our job.]

"The name of the game at this time is to finish the project. Para sa tao, para sa bayan. [For the people, for the country.]"

The DOTr in September said it will deliver all its promised projects before the end of Duterte's term in 2022.

The national and local elections have been scheduled for May 9, 2022. —KG, GMA News