President Rodrigo Duterte announced Tuesday his plans to run for vice president, the first Philippine chief executive to do so.
Duterte confirmed his plans to seek the second-highest post in the land in 2022 during a late-night meeting with the government's inter-agency task force on COVID-19 pandemic response.
"Gusto talaga ninyo? O sige, tatakbo ako ng bise presidente then I will continue the crusade. I'm worried about the drugs, insurgency...then criminality," he said.
"I may not have the power to give the direction or guidance but I can always express my views in public for whatever it may be worth in the coming days," he said.
Duterte made the announcement hours after a faction of PDP-Laban announced that the 76-year-old leader accepted the party's endorsement for his candidacy for vice president.
Duterte has repeatedly teased about running for vice president in the past, saying that it would supposedly even make him immune from suit. The matter has raised concerns about circumventing the law since the Constitution only prohibits the sitting president from seeking reelection.
Should he win in the 2022 elections, Duterte would be the first Philippine president to become vice president, and is first in line in succession.
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