Palace sees Duterte dropping VP plans for Romualdez in Eleksyon 2022

Malacañang on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte will keep his promise to ditch his plan to seek the vice presidency in 2022 if ever House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez will run for the same post.

However, there seems to be "no indication" that Romualdez will run for vice president next year, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque at a press briefing.

"Kung tatakbo po si Congressman Romualdez ay susuportahan pa rin niya [ni Pangulong Duterte]. Eh wala pa namang indication na tatakbo si Congressman Romualdez for vice president,” Roque said.

(If Congressman Romualdez will run, then the President will support him. But there is no indication that Congressman Romualdez will run for Vice President at this point.) 

Roque made the response when asked if Duterte's promise to support Romualdez still stands since the President himself has said he is running for vice president in 2022.

Duterte made the promise to Romualdez in June, noting how the lawmaker backed out in the speakership race among administration allies in 2019.

In response, Romualdez said he has no decision yet on whether he will really aspire for vice president post, but agreed that Duterte is "very much qualified and capable" to run for the post.

Roque described Duterte as "a man of his word."

"I was there when the President said that [he will support Romualdez]. The President is a man of his word. If Congressman Romualdez will run, then he (Duterte) will not run for Vice President," he said.

In the same briefing, Roque quoted Duterte as saying that he will run for vice president in 2022. He, however, said Duterte made the remark "under the perception" that his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, will not seek the presidency.

Sara has yet to reveal her plans for 2022 although she has said she is open to running for president. —KBK, GMA News