DAVAO CITY – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said that he does not want to run for national post, yet action speaks louder than words as the mayor continued to make rounds outside Davao City for his “listening tour”.
“Wala kang magawa dyan sa presidency except to sit there and be criticized everyday (There is nothing to do in presidency except to sit there and be criticized everyday),” Duterte said on Sunday’s episode of Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa.
He also said that the position coexist with “all sort of accusations”.
“I don’t need it. Hindi ko kailangan yan sa buhay ko. Matanda na ako (I don’t need it. I don’t need it in my life. I am already old),” Duterte said.
A group of barangay captains held a fun run activity here during the weekends which aims to urge Duterte to run for the 2016 election.
The ‘Run Duterte Run’ was participated by more than 10,000 supporters of the mayor coming from different parts of Mindanao.
Duterte said that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ has also been urging him to run for presidency.
He added that the pastor shared he dreamt about Duterte being the president.
“Pastor, that is a dream. Sabi ko I hope it would not come true. It would not come to pass because I simply don’t like the position,” he said.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay has also expressed his interest in having Duterte as his running mate.
However, Duterte said that he plans to retire after his term as mayor ends.
Yet Duterte’s “listening tour” for federalism is ongoing. On May 17, Duterte spoke before some 5,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Wan Chai, Hong Kong telling OFWs not to be swayed by popularity survey in choosing the next leader. The event was organized by Quiboloy.
Early last month, Duterte spoke before more than 5,000-crowd during the commencement exercise of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. From Iligan City, the Duterte group moved to Tagaytay City on April 11, Bukidnon on April 15, Calapan, Oriental Mindoro on April 22, Daet, Camarines Norte on April 23, Masbate on April 24 and Pagadian City on April 27. (davaotoday.com)
