DAVAO CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) – “I am not running.”
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ended on Monday, September 7, what has been a long wait for supporters and political observers, announcing that he would not seek the presidency in the 2016 elections.
He told a crowd of supporters, a number of them crying, that he arrived at the decision after consulting with his family. It is no secret that at least his daughter Sara – also a former mayor of Davao – was against him running seeking the highest post. Duterte’s son, meanwhile, had said they would support whatever decision their father would take.
“After consulting my family and everybody else connected to my life, I would like to categorically state now and also for the agony of those waiting for those who believe in me: hindi ako tatakbo pagkapresidente,” the mayor said.
“Wala ako ambisyon in 2016. May usapan kami ni Inday Sara, pero hindi pa buo, na I’m asking her to run for mayorship. In 2016, I will retire from public life for good. I believe it’s no longer my time to be in politics,” he said.
Duterte apologized to his supporters and friends during the 14-minute press conference, then hurriedly left the hotel.
He was teary-eyed and did not entertain questions from reporters.
The movement to convince Duterte to run for president was launched in March 2014, with thousands of Davao residents showing up at the city’s Rizal Park, carrying banners and tarpaulins to show their support.
At the time, the mayor had threatened to quit politics when his term as mayor ends in 2016 if the supporters continued.
He raised his supporters’ hopes, however, when he kicked off in January 2015 a series of regional consultations on a possible shift to a federal system of government in the country – his longtime advocacy that is shared by many residents of the Visayas and Mindanao.
(Photo credit: Mayor Duterte is surrounded by media men in the press conference in Grand Men Seng today. John Pagaduan)
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