President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr., upon arrival for the Opening Ceremony of the 2013 Philippine M.I.C.E. Conference (MICECON 2013) at the 3rd Floor, SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premiere in Davao City on Thursday (March 07, 2013). The MICE Conference is a prestigious gathering of key players in the travel and tourism industry. The conference will provide the Host an opportunity to showcase its destinations to approximately 400 stakeholders in the tourism industry comprised of: travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, resort owners, professional congress/ exhibition/event organizers, association/corporate executives, destination management companies, airline representatives, local government officials, academe, students and the media. (MNS photo)).
MANILA ( Mabuhay) – Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte once again doused speculations that he will be the substitute candidate for the presidential bet fielded by the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
In an interview in Davao City, Duterte said he is getting tired of responding to speculations that he will eventually join the presidential race by beating the December 10 deadline to replace PDP-Laban bet Martin Diño.
“Wala – wala talaga. No political arrangement or discussion or agreement – wala talaga. I’ve been hiding. Kaya nandito ako sa Davao, hindi ako lumalabas,” he said.
“I really do not know. I really do not know how to solve the problem of the Philippines. I cannot be the savior of this republic.”
Vice-presidential aspirant and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano earlier said he is not yet giving up on Duterte.
“I’m hoping for two things, he will say yes and his no is Cayetano for VP. I’m willing to take the role of campaigning for him. I’m excited for what he can do for the country. He’s the only candidate who will tell you exactly what he will do,” said Cayetano.
Duterte said he can’t blame his supporters for continuously hoping that he will eventually throw his hat in the ring.
“Iyan ang iniisip ng mga tao. Pipigilan mo ba? People again are speculating on my candidacy during the substitution month. Para matapos na lang ang ingay ‘o sige’ tingnan natin sa Disyembre. Hope springs eternal,” he said.
Duterte said he is going to support a presidential candidate who will support federalism.
“We will look for a presidential candidate who would embrace federalism with passion. To anyone of them would want to go to Mindanao to get Mindanao votes, I say be on federalism’s side,” he said.(MNS)