Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte visited the Province of Pampanga and spoke with the Governor Lilia Pineda wherein he revealed that he is intent on retiring from politics by next year instead of pursuing presidency. The popular Mayor of Davao City also urged former Senator Ping Lacson and Sen. Trillanes to run for President in the upcoming 2016 national elections.
According to Mayor Duterte one of the reason why he should not run for President was his family and close ally in Davao City. The Mayor of Davao City also noted that one reason why some sectors are pushing him to run for president is because there are too few choices for voters.
The 70-year-old Mayor Rodrigo Duterte added further that he like to see politicians like former PNP Chief Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Antonio Trillanes dclare their own plans to run for higher office.
Mayor Duterte was quoted as saying “‘Yan ang problema. Kaya gusto ko tumakbo si Lacson, si Trillanes, kasi when the smoke clears, dalawa lang [ang kandidato] e. Gusto ko mag-ambisyon yung iba kasi kulang pa tayo…I am urging them to file certificates of candidacy ngayong October,” he said.
“Kulang tayo. Ang choices ng Pilipino medyo barado. Kasi ang pwede lang diyan si Binay at si…wala tayong ibang choice. Gusto ko dagdagan,” he said.
Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte also noted that he will not run for President of the Republic of the Philippines, when asked by reporters if there is a chance he might change his mind he replied that his entire family will not let him run for higher office but also considers the expenses shouldered by his supporters.
Mayor Duterte was quoted as saying “Ayaw ng pamilya ko e pero marami nang nagastos ang mga supporters ko,” he said.
The visit of Mayor Duterte to Pampanga was to pushed for a shift to federalism, saying that most countries that have a federal form of government are undeniably progressive. It is also an option to attain peace in Mindanao if the Bangsamoro Basic Law is not passed into law.