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Duterte not endorsing Sotto for VP in Eleksyon 2022, says Roque


President Rodrigo Duterte is not endorsing Senate President Vicente Sotto III for vice president in the coming 2022 elections, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after the Duterte, in his sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA), said Sotto can be a good vice president.

"Hindi naman po [ito endorsement]. I think kinikiliti lang niya si Senate President, kasi naroroon siya and they had of course an occasion to meet, dahil siya iyong sumalubong sa Kongreso," Roque said during an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.

(This is not an endorsement. He is just teasing the Senate President who was there and they had a chance to meet.)

"Kumbaga, he is just encouraging Senate President to pursue his political plans. Dahil sa demokrasya naman importante na mayroong pagpipilian ang taumbayan," he added.

(It was more of an encouragement to the Senate president to pursue his political plans. Because in a democracy, people need choices.)

Sotto has said he will run for vice president in the 2022 polls, with Senator Panfilo Lacson as the presidential bet.

President Duterte, on the other hand, has said he is considering running for vice president in 2022 upon the prodding of his PDP-Laban party mates.

The filing of candidacy for the 2022 polls is set on the first week of October. — Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ, GMA News

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