President Rodrigo Duterte reassured the public on Friday that he would not seek reelection or campaign for anybody in the May elections next year.
This developed as his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, swore in several prominent politicians into her regional party, the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, in a ceremony in Tagum, Davao del Norte.
“I am not campaigning for anybody, or even me, I cannot run anymore,” the President said at the inauguration of a rehabilitation center in Malaybay City, Bukidnon.
“Sagad na ako [I am spent]. After my term, I will retire and, probably, die slowly. Or, if somebody is interested, they can make it faster,” the elder Duterte said in jest.
In Tagum, Senators JV Ejercito and Cynthia Villar, Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go swore their oaths to the HNP, which Sara Duterte has positioned as an alternative to the ruling PDP-Laban party of her father.
The Davao mayor previously said Hugpong is ready to ally with local political parties and that she “did not foresee this growing interest of other politicians from other regions.”
With the blessing of President Duterte, Sara formed the HNP with four governors of Region 11. It will join PDP-Laban and the opposition Liberal Party in seeking positions in the Davao region and seats in Congress.