WATCH: Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte finally said his candidacy for president is already “on the table,” following SET’s decision on Sen. Grace Poe’s citizenship. #Halalan2016Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/1PGhn4A
Posted by ABS-CBNnews.com on Saturday, November 21, 2015
After months of speculation whether Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will join or not join the presidential race, Duterte on Saturday said he is finally going to run for president in the upcoming 2016 elections.
The feisty mayor said during a private party in Dasmarinas, Cavite, that he decided to join the 2016 race after the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) voted against petitions to disqualify Grace Poe on the grounds of her citizenship.
“What made me decide to run? Was it an offer for money? No. Gusto ko lang sabihin sa lahat stop (expletive) with the Philippines. Nothing against Grace but if you run for the highest post in the land, it must be reserved for a true-blue Filipino,” Duterte said.
“If ever you make it, you will be a presumptive president by citizenship. Hindi ko matanggap yung ganun. What will happen when she is disqualified because she is American? Give me an Igorot, an Aaeta, a plumber kahit ano basta Pilipino. It is a matter of principle. Pagka ganun my candidacy for the presidency is on the table.”
“There is a central rule by the Supreme Court which says when you use an alien passport thereby representing you to be a citizen of another country, you have renounced the Philippine citizenship. Why is it not followed? Eh kung ganoon, kanya-kanya na tayo (If that is the case, let’s just go our own separate ways),” he said.
“If she can prove she is Filipino then I will step down. I will be her (Poe) campaign manager.” he added.
When asked about what made him change his mind, he told Rappler: “There are things in life that would move a man, a citizen, to do something even if he doesn’t enjoy it.”
Duterte is with Senator Alan Peter Cayetano who is running for vice president and has been rooting for a tandem with him.
Duterte also said that his stay in Luzon is also to seek the blessing of his party mates from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
PDP-Laban presidential bet Martin Diño’s withdrawal from the 2016 presidential race opened the doors for Duterte to become the party’s substitute candidate.
