Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) — Despite confirming he will run for vice president in the 2022 polls, President Rodrigo Duterte will not push through with his plan if House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez will gun for the same position, according to Malacañang.
“Eh kung tatakbo po si Congressman Romualdez, susuportahan pa rin niya. Pero wala naman pong indication na tatakbo si Congressman Romualdez as vice president,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in his Thursday briefing.
[Translation: If Congressman Romualdez will run, the President will support him. But there’s no indication that Congressman Romualdez will run as vice president.]
Last June, Duterte said he will not run for the second highest post in the land if Romualdez will do the same. Romualdez, however, said he also won’t run for vice president “in contravention” to the chief executive.
“I believe the President said that he is a man of his word. So dahil binitawan niyang salita na kung tatakbo si Congressman Romualdez, susuportahan niya [because he said he will support Congressman Romualdez if he runs], I believe if Congressman Romualdez will run, he will not run for vice president,” Roque said.
Roque also said Duterte is eyeing the vice presidency as he still has “unfinished business” against corruption and illegal drugs – which he vowed to eradicate during his presidential campaign in 2016.
