Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in a press conference in Davao on Monday (September 7) categorically declared he will not join the 2016 presidential race.
Not because of lack of machinery, not because of political affiliations, but because of his family.
“Hindi ako tatakbo ng presidente. Wala akong ambisyon maging presidente,” Duterte said
[Translation: “I’m not running for president. I don’t have any ambition to become president.”]
Duterte further announced his possible retirement in politics.
“In 2016 I will retire for good. Yan ang usapan namin sa pamilya,” said Duterte.
[Translation: “That what my family agreed on.’]
He also said he talked to his daughter former Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, whom he asked to run again.
“May usapan kami ni Inday Sara. I will ask her to run for the mayorship,” Duterte said.
Previous reports said Nationalista Party (NP) and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) were eyeing Duterte as their possible presidential bet.
Duterte apologized to his supporters who had exerted much effort in encouraging him to run for president.
Who will Duterte support in 2016?
Now that Duterte categorically stated that he would not run for president, the next question his supporters asked him was: Who will he support in 2016 presidential elections?
Duterte said he would keep an open mind but refused to say who he would support in the coming elections.
Duterte, however, said he would continue his campaign for federalism and that he would back whoever would support it.
He reiterated his earlier statement that nothing short of federalism could appease the Muslim community especially if the Bangsamoro Basic Law would not pass Congress.
