Duterte to run for senator in Eleksyon 2022

President Rodrigo Duterte has filed a certificate of candidacy to run for senator in Eleksyon 2022.

Senator Bong Go earlier confirmed this development. In a report by Super Radyo dzBB’s Nimfa Ravelo, Go said Duterte would file his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections’ headquarters through a lawyer.

According to PDP-Laban secretary-general Melvin Matibag, Duterte will run under Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), substituting a certain Mona Liza Visorde.

Matibag said the president will run under PDDS to avoid "legal complications" in light of the infighting within PDP-Laban, the same reason why Go filed his COC for president under a different party.

"The PDP Laban - PDDS Alliance is further strengthened by President Duterte’s decision to file his COC for Senator. PDP Laban fully supports President Duterte. Him using the PDDS CONA is a strategic decision," he said in a Viber message to reporter

In a separate text message to GMA News Online, Go said Duterte’s senatorial run would prevent any rifts among the members of the first family.

“Kung ako lang tatanungin, ayaw ko din na [vice president] ang i-file nya. Ayaw ko magkasakitan pa. Tama na ako na lang ang nasaktan. Mataas respeto ko kay pangulo at sa kanyang pamilya,” he said.

(If I were to be asked, I don’t want him to run for vice president. I don’t want them to hurt each other. I have huge respect to the president and his family.)

Over the weekend, Duterte's daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte filed a substitute certificate of candidacy for vice president under the Lakas-CMD party.

That same day, the President said he would run for vice president—a move that would have pitted him directly against his daughter. He was also at the Comelec, accompanying Go, who dropped his vice presidential bid and instead filed to run for president under the PDDS.

'Retirement from politics'

Duterte had earlier said he was going to run for vice president, before a poll said that 60% of Filipinos believe that his running for the position violates the Constitution's intent. Opposition senators also said that it would "bend" the Constitution.

Last month, Duterte announced that he would instead retire from politics.

"[I]n obedience to the will of the people, who after all placed me to the presidency many years ago, I now say sa mga kababayan ko, sundin ko ang gusto ninyo [I now say to my countrymen and women that I will follow your wishes] and today I announce my retirement from politics." — BM, GMA News