By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Candidly admitting that he is now tired, former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte has thrown in the towel on a possible senatorial bid despite the result of a survey firm purportedly established by his rabid supporter showing him topping the choice of potential candidates for the Senate race next year.
On Saturday (January 6), Duterte, 78, underscored that he is not inclined to come out of retirement, assuring the public that this is the “truth.”
“I am telling you the truth, wala na ako. Maski gusto ko man, pero hindi na kaya ng katawan ko. Why do I have to make some pretensions here?” the feisty ex-president said during a press conference.
In November, Duterte said he would be forced to run for senator in 2025 or vice president in 2028 if his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte is impeached from office.
He made his “threat” after the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez thrashed the proposed P650-million total of confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) headed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte for 2024.
Inday Sara — as the Vice President is fondly called by his family, friends, and supporters — eventually dropped her request for the P650 million CIF following a public uproar.
“No more politics for me. I’m retired. Retired na talaga ako. I’m tired. Ayoko na ng pulitika. Hindi naman ako nasusuka. I find it disgusting for me to still meddle in politics,” the former Chief Executive said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
