(CNN Philippines) — Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s bid to run for president seems to be an endless game of hints.
On February 18, the mayor told a crowd of at least 2,000 during a forum on federalism that he might run as president in the 2016 elections “if only to save the republic.”
Duterte, however, recanted his statement two days later, saying that what he said was merely theoretical.
He clarified that he was merely placing himself in the shoes of those who publicly declared their desire for him to become president.
On his Facebook page, former North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol said that the Davao City mayor is opening his doors to the possibility of running, though only if majority of the Filipino people wills it.
Duterte made the statement November last year during boxing match between the Manny Pacquiao and Chris Algieri in Macau.
Prior to that, the local chief executive repeatedly turned down the calls to run even threatening to shoot anyone who urges him to join the 2016 presidential race.
Not a Marcos or a Santiago
A member of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the mayor said in a video interview posted online that he does not possess the brilliance of deposed president Ferdinand Marcos nor the wit of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
What he got, according to him, is his common sense and three decades of experience as a public official and a prosecutor.
Duterte has been going around the country doing a “listening tour” to promote federalism which he believes can resolve conflict in Mindanao.
Some supporters, however, said that more than talking about federalism, the mayor is also gauging his chances of getting the presidency.
But the mayor maintained that he does not covet the position.
CNN Philippines’ string correspondents Ben Tesiorna and JM Agreda contributed to this report.
