MANILA – Former President Rodrigo Duterte is making a political comeback. He aims the Davao City mayoralty position with his son, current mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, as his running mate.
In a press conference on Saturday night, Duterte said he has opted to run locally in the 2025 midterm elections as he cannot afford a national campaign amid calls for him to run in the Senate.
“Let me put it this way, kilala nyo naman ako, I have been your mayor for so many years now. You think that I can carry a national campaign at my age? Or you want me to die?” the former President said. “Mag-ko-collapse na ako nyan eh.”
Former President Duterte held the Davao City mayor position for several years before he run and won the presidency in 2016.
Earlier in the day, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) president, Sen. Robinhood Padilla, said they are still convincing former President Duterte and Baste to join the 2025 Senate race.
“Ako, hanggang ngayon, nakikiusap kay (former President Duterte) na tumakbo. Gusto ko na tumakbo siya. Kung hindi siya, isa sa mga anak niya ang tumakbo (for Senator),” Padilla said.
“Kasi talagang para sa amin, napakahalaga sa PDP na may Duterte — kasi ang PDP ay Duterte,” the action star-turned-politician added.
Months ago, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio said that the former President, Mayor Baste, and Davao 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte will run for senator in next year’s elections.
But former President Duterte himself denied that he will run for senator in the upcoming midterm polls.
Currently, PDP has four senatorial candidates in re-electionist Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go and senatorial aspirants, actor Phillip Salvador and singer Jimmy Bondoc./PN
