DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Even if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would pave the way for Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to run for president in the May 2016 polls, it cannot compel him to do so.
Duterte said yesterday nothing could ever make him change his mind even if the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino – Laban (PDP-Laban) has decided that he seek the presidency as substitute to Martin Diño who was earlier made to explain why he should not be considered a nuisance candidate.
“My stand is still the same and nothing has changed, I am not running for president. I am not interested in the position. I have no ambitions to become president. How many times do I have to say that? I do not have the stomach for it. It is not appealing to me. It is not to my liking,” Duterte stressed.
The local executive, however, said that he has yet to receive a formal letter from PDP-Laban on its reported stand to make him run for president rather than seek reelection.
“I heard from the radio and from you (but) I have not received any formal communication from PDP compelling me to run for the presidency. In the meantime, nothing has changed,” he told The STAR.
Duterte pointed out that the PDP-Laban decision to compel him to run after Diño withdrew his candidacy was solely the decision of the party and that he has nothing to do with it.
“Maayo pa sila, buot-buot,” he said in Cebuano, which can be translated to “they (party officers) have decided without consulting me.”
He reiterated that he would only give up his bid for another mayoral term if his daughter Sara, also a former mayor, would run for the top post in his stead in May 2016. He added that he would retire from politics if that happens.