One of the country’s most popular city mayor, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte announced during an interview with the media that he is willing to run for President in 2016 “if only to save this Republic.” The statement was released by the Mayor of Davao City during the First Federalism Forum in Northern Luzon held in Dagupan, Pangasinan.
According to Mayor Duterte camp, the mayor of Davao City was asked by one of the participant on what he could do to address the problems of the country so Mayor Duterte decided to air his plans of running for President. For the past few years, Mayor Duterte has always been mum about his plans to run for higher national position.
The declaration of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to run for President in the 2016 national elections ends speculations on whether or not he will yield to the call of some groups.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is currently going around the country for a “Listening Tour” that aims to advocate for a shift in the country’s system from a unitary Presidential to a Federal Parliamentary System of government.
The long-serving mayor of Davao City noted that federal parliamentary form of government will help address the issues in the countryside. Some supporters of Mayor Duterte welcomed the positive impact of the mayor’s declaration to run for President in 2016.