MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte formally accepted his nomination as the official vice presidential candidate of the ruling party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Wednesday, to assure the “continuity” of his efforts to push the country forward.
Duterte thanked his party mates for their “continued trust and confidence” in his leadership and for choosing him as the party’s vice presidential candidate during the PDP-Laban’s national convention and proclamation of its candidates for the 2022 national and local elections.
“No words can express my gratitude for your continued trust and confidence in my leadership and for nominating me as the party’s official vice presidential candidate in the 2022 elections,” Duterte said in his keynote speech delivered in San Fernando, Pampanga.
As he stated his intention to continue serving the country after his presidency expires in June of next year, Duterte wiped away his tears.
He said that he will run for vice president to ensure that his administration’s efforts to remove illegal drugs, terrorism, and corruption in government would continue to produce fruit after his six-year term.
“Alam mo kung bakit ako tatakbo ng vice presidency (Do you know why I will seek the vice presidency)? Is it ambition? Maybe. But is it really a sense of love of country? Yes. Is it really because I want to see the continuity of my efforts even though I may not be the one giving the direction. Baka makatulong lang ako (I hope I can help),” Duterte said.
Duterte expressed hope that Filipino people would let him serve them again by voting him as the country’s second highest official next year.
“I am hopeful that this will allow me to continue serving the Filipino people and lead the entire nation towards greater progress,” he said.
Attain ‘genuine, lasting’ prosperity
During its national congress in Pampanga, the PDP-Laban formally endorsed Duterte as their vice presidential candidate.
Aside from Duterte, the PDP-Laban has also declared Senator Christopher Lawrence Go as its official presidential candidate.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade, and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez were also named as the party’s official senatorial candidates.
Its guest senatorial candidates include Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chairperson Greco Belgica, and House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta.
Duterte urged the newly-proclaimed PDP-Laban candidates for next year’s elections to seek “genuine and lasting prosperity” for the country.
“Let me congratulate the party’s official candidates for the 2022 national and local elections. I trust that you will duly prepare for your future responsibilities as elected public officials. Regardless of the election results and even beyond the election period, I expect you to uphold the party’s principles and aspirations,” he said.
Duterte also urged them to remain united and focused on enhancing the quality of life for all Filipinos, particularly in the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
He also encouraged them to ignore the political distractions and focus solely on serving the public.
“Let us not be hindered by those who only seek personal political gain and instead realign ourselves with the party’s objectives,” Duterte said. “I am confident that with a strong resolve and solidarity we’ll once again claim victory in the upcoming elections.”
