‘Di pa magre-retire! Panelo: Duterte open to running for VP

President Rodrigo Duterte is open to running for vice president in 2022, his legal counsel said.

In an interview on One News’ “The Chiefs” Tuesday (May 25), Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said Duterte will consider running for vice president if the clamor for him to do so is strong.

“He will only be open to run ‘pag may clamor, ‘pag malakas ang clamor,” Panelo said.

The abogado, who’s one of Duterte’s long time friends, said the President also believes destiny will play a factor in his decision.

“Well, I asked him. Sabi niya, hayaan ko sa Diyos. I’ll leave it to God. In other words, kung tinadhana talaga, wala ka magagawa,” Panelo said.

A number of Duterte’s supporters are urging him to run for vice president in 2022, possibly opposite his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte or Senator Bong Go.

To prove how important public clamor is in helping Duterte decide, Panelo shared an incident that prompted Duterte to run for president in 2016.

Duterte filed his certificate of candidacy in November 2015 as the substitute for PDP-Laban’s standard bearer, Martin Dino.

“May pinuntahan kami na premiere sa Mega, movie showing. Alam mo ba na pagdating sa parking, it takes only three minutes from parking to cinema. But it took us an hour and a half. Kasi sinalubong siya, ayaw pakawalan. Pag-alis namin, same story,” Panelo shared.

The abogado, however, said it was the Senate Electoral Tribunal’s ruling on Senator Grace Poe’s citizenship which finally pushed Duterte to run for president.

The SET ruled that Poe, a foundling and presidential contender, was a Filipino citizen.

Panelo recalled: “Tamang-tama galit na galit si Duterte. Sabi niya, ‘They’re f*cking with the Consti so I’ll run whether I win or not. Noong birthday ni [former Manila Mayor Alfredo] Lim, walang kurap-kurap, he said ‘I’m running for president.’”

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)