Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 17) — House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez has yet to decide if he will run for vice president in 2022 despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s expression of support for his candidacy.
Romualdez on Thursday thanked Duterte for his endorsement, but said he is focused for now on the administration’s legislative agenda.
“Right now, I’ve actually not made any concrete plans vis-a-vis a national run, pero vis-a-vis our work in the House, nakatutok pa rin tayo [we are still focused on that],” he said in a press briefing.
Romualdez, president of the political party Lakas-CMD, sidestepped questions about possibly running alongside Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. However, he said he wants his party to strengthen its alliance with the mayor’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).
“As we look towards the 2022 elections, kumbaga hindi kami maghihiwalay [in other words, we will not separate], in fact we will strengthen our alliance and we will formalize that very soon,” he said.
Romualdez also downplayed the possibility of a conflict between him and his cousin, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. due to Duterte’s endorsement.
Marcos emerged as a possible running mate of Mayor Duterte after visiting her in Davao City last month.
“I don’t foresee any conflict as what you’re anticipating. Kasi alam mo naman lahat ng mga conflict, mga problema, basta harapin natin, mag-usap-usap tayo bago magkaroon ng problema, maso-solve natin,” he said.
[Translation: I don’t foresee any conflict as what you’re anticipating. Because you know that all conflicts, problems, as long as we face them, and we talk before about them, we will be able to solve the problem before it arises.]
Meanwhile, former Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando “Nonoy” Andaya Jr. shrugged off Duterte’s support for Romualdez.
Andaya, an ally of former Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr., noted that Duterte made the promise to support Romualdez before his daughter emerged as a strong presidential contender.
“Things have changed dramatically. Sara wasn’t even in the picture at that time. So obviously kumbaga outdated na ‘yung promise na ‘yun [in other words, that promise is outdated],” he said.
“Probably, pinapakita lang ni Pres. Duterte na [Pres. Duterte is just showing that] he’s a man of his word but deep down he knows na hindi ‘yun ang gusto ni Sara [that’s not what Sara wants],” he added.
Andaya said Teodoro will fly to Davao again on July 3 to meet with Sara and get his second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Teodoro had said he is willing to run for vice president alongside Sara once she firms up her political plans.
