MANILA – Malacañang said on Tuesday that Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso’s offer to adopt President Rodrigo Duterte as his party’s fourth Senate candidate is proof of the latter’s many accomplishments.
Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles made the statement after Domagoso said that he believed Duterte is a qualified candidate for the position and that he is willing to adopt him as the Aksyon Demokratiko Party’s fourth senatorial candidate.
“Ito po’y patunay sa maraming nagawa si Pangulong Duterte sa kanyang panunungkulan at sa marami niyang ginagawa at gagawin pa. At patunay ito sa kumpiyansa ng marami sa ating mga kababayan sa kanya na pag binigyan po siya nag pagkakataon na makapagpatuloy ng kanyang serbisyo sa Senado, ay maipagpatuloy niya ang lahat ng mga ito (This is proof that President Duterte has accomplished a lot during his term and in the future. This also proves the confidence of many of our citizens in him and that if he is given another chance to continue his service in the Senate, he will do it),” he said in a Palace press briefing.
However, Nograles refused to confirm whether Duterte will accept Domagoso’s offer.
“Ayaw ko rin pong pangunahan kung ano ang mangyayari sa susunod na araw at sa susunod na buwan. At ayaw ko rin pangunahan ano magiging desisyon ng iba’t-ibang mga kandidato na tumatakbo at iba’t-ibang mga partido na nais pang mag-endorse kay Pangulong Duterte (I don’t want to preempt what could happen in the following days or months. And I don’t want to preempt the decision of other candidates running and other parties that also want to endorse President Duterte),” he said.
It remains to be seen whether a party will eventually adopt Duterte or form an alliance, according to Nograles.
Duterte filed his candidacy for senator under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), an allied party of the ruling Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban).
“Siyempre, si Pangulong Duterte ay tumatakbo sa partido ng PDDS at sinusuporthan din po siya ng PDP-Laban. Kung mayroon mang mangyayari pagkatapos nito na mga pag-adopt o di kaya magkaroon ng alliances, ayoko po pangunahan kung anong mangyayari sa mga susunod pang mga araw, linggo, at maging sa susunod na buwan (Of course the President is running under the PDDS and is also being supported by PDP-Laban. If there should be any move to adopt or forge an alliance, I do not want to preempt what could happen in the following days, weeks, and months),” Nograles added.
Domagoso claimed he will vote for Duterte as senator because of his “many accomplishments”.
“I’m going to vote for him personally, I’m going to endorse him kung papayag siya, I’ll be honored. I’ll be humbled and honored na umoo si Pangulong Duterte. Nakuha ko nga siyang iboto, hindi ko pa ba makuhang siya’y i-adopt (I will vote for him, why can’t I adopt him, too?),” Domagoso said.
He said it would be an “honor” if Duterte accept his offer to be his party’s adopted senatorial candidate, but said that the President is free to accept or reject the invitation.
“Let’s give credit where credit is due. President Duterte has so many accomplishments. And I believe that he can be an effective senator since through legislation, he can ensure that his legacy will [be] institutionalized,” he added.
