By Junex Doronio
MANILA — It looks like the camp of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is flexing its muscles for the 2025 midterm elections with no less than popular TV gameshow host Willie Revillame in the senatorial slate of the fledgling PDP-Laban-Duterte faction.
During the anti-charter change rally in Davao City last January 28, Revillame announced that he is now ready to run for senator in 2025 after he handed P2,000 each to his game contestants.
“Pinag-iisipan ko pong mabuti. Kung ano po ang magiging desisyon nyo, yun ang susundin ko. Palagay ko handa na ako,” Revillame said, addressing Duterte and to the applause of the crowd.
The popular TV personality disclosed that he was asked by Duterte to seek a Senate seat in the 2022 elections but begged off at that time, saying he was not yet ready then.
“Last March, two years ago, pinatawag po ako ni Sen. Bong Go, ng mahal na pangulo at ako ay kinausap nila sa Malakanyang. Yun po yung pinapatakbo niya ako bilang senator. During that time, meron po akong programa sa GMA yung Wowowin,” Revillame said.
He admitted that he politely declined Duterte’s invitation to join the latter’s senatorial slate for 2022 polls.
“Sabi ko mahal na pangulo, meron pa po akong kontrata at hindi ko pa po kaya. Paghanda na po ako pag iisipan ko,” Revillame further said.
With no more gameshow following the sudden stoppage of airing of programs of ALLTV network managed by All Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) owned by former Senate president and businessman Manny Villar, the “Wowowin” gameshow seemingly has no choice but to try his luck in politics if he can also win.
AMBS had its soft launch on Sept. 13, 2022 only to announce in February 2023 to temporarily stop airing some of its shows.
ALLTV’s station-produced shows include Revillame’s game show “Wowowin,” Toni Gonzaga’s eponymous talk show “Toni” and the morning show “M.O.M” (Mommies On a Mission) hosted by Mariel Rodriguez, Ruffa Gutierrez and Ciara Sotto.
The shows were on air for only five months.
Revillame has reportedly resigned “out of bitterness” from ALLTV Channel 2, just 14 months after leaving the leading GMA Network.
(el Amigo/MNM)
