Sotto unbothered if Duterte runs for vice president in Eleksyon 2022

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday said he is not bothered if President Rodrigo Duterte decides to run for vice president in the 2022 national elections.

"If I have finished my presentation and we are ready with a program for the vice president, I will not look at the other candidates who are running. As I said and that's my statement, it will have no beget on my resolve," Sotto said during a virtual interview with reporters when asked if he would still seek the vice presidency in case Duterte vies for the same post.

"In other words, welcome to the club... okay lang kahit sino ang tumakbo, siguro naman mayroon din silang programang iprepresenta. Nasa taumbayan  'yun kung sino ang tingin nilang makakagawa ng mabuti sa posisyon na 'yun," he added.

(It's okay whoever decides to run. I'm sure they also have programs to present. It is up to the Filipino citizens to decide who they think is best for that position.)

Sotto described Duterte as a "formidable" opponent for the vice presidency. He said both of them running for the same elective post would not mean that they will already be enemies.

"Siguradong hindi kami basta-basta mag-aaway, hindi naman siguro, kaibigan pa rin naman kami," Sotto said.

(We will not fight, we're friends.)

Sotto has admitted that he is considering running for vice president in the 2022 national and local elections. He said he may announce his decision after Duterte delivers his last State of the Nation Address in July.

Duterte, meanwhile, is being pushed by the PDP-Laban to seek the vice presidency in the coming elections.

For his part, Duterte has said that running for the vice presidency is a "good idea," however, he also believes that holding the second highest post in the land would just be waiting for the president to "wilt."

But he also said that he had promised to support House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez if the Leyte representative decides to run for vice president. — RSJ, GMA News