DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has finally decided to run – for reelection.
Duterte said his decision is “final” and urged all his supporters to “please stop any move to convince me” to seek the presidency.
His chief aide Christopher Go filed Duterte’s certificate of candidacy (COC) for reelection at 2:40 p.m. yesterday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Davao City.
Go arrived at the Comelec office clad in white shirt with “No is no” printed in front and “Sinabi ko na ayaw ko, ang titigas ng ulo niyo (I said I don’t want to, you are hardheaded) – Rody Duterte” at the back.
Go told The STAR that Duterte is just being true to his earlier pronouncement that he would not run for president.
Duterte met with reporters late yesterday afternoon after Go filed his COC for reelection. He said all speculations must end that he is seeking the presidency.
Duterte may still opt to withdraw his reelection bid and file another COC for president because voluntary withdrawal is allowed under election rules.
“In our basic rules, if you file your COC, yes, you can withdraw and then file another one within the filing period... But in saying this, I am not addressing the case of Duterte,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.
But Duterte said he is not fond of surprises and he has no plans of pulling one as the deadline for filing of COCs ends today.
“I am not changing my mind. As I have said, I am not running. Do not expect me to file any COC for president,” Duterte said in between taarget shooting at a firing range in Barangay Maa.
Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter However, Cayetano is still not giving up on Duterte as a possible presidential candidate. Cayetano has offered himself as running mate of Duterte for the 2016 elections.
“I believe Mayor Duterte will be the best president for our country at this time. He will give people a real choice,” Cayetano said.
“He will either be the best president we’ve ever had or the best president we never had. It is his choice. We join our people in praying he will make the right decision,” he added.
Duterte decided to seek reelection despite the last-ditch effort of his eldest daughter, former mayor Sara Duterte, and many of his supporters who shaved their heads in an apparent attempt to convince the mayor to seek the presidency.
Sara, who is perceived to be at odds with her father, had her head shaved on Tuesday and posted it on her Instagram account with hashtags #JustDUit, #Duterte2016 and #Kalboparasapagbabago, indicating support for her father.
Hundreds of citizens in Davao City followed Sara. They had their heads shaved on Wednesday and yesterday in several barbershops that offered the service for free as a show of support for Duterte.
Even Go had his head shaved. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Evelyn Macairan, Marvin Sy