Duterte's top aide declines presidential nomination

MANILA • Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's long-time aide has rejected the endorsement of the ruling party to run as its candidate in the 2022 elections, a development that some analysts said may open the way for Mr Duterte's daughter to stand.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, in a letter to the PDP-Laban party, said he wanted to devote his attention to helping fight the coronavirus pandemic, asking his allies to support candidates who will continue Mr Duterte's policies and programmes.

"As much as I wish to respond to the clamour of many of our party mates, I most respectfully decline the said endorsement," he wrote in the letter, which was made public yesterday.

Mr Go had previously said he was open to running for president if Mr Duterte was his running mate.

Mr Duterte, 76, is prohibited by the Constitution from seeking a second term, but his opponents believe he wants to maintain his grip on power.

He has declared he will seek the vice-presidency, if his daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio does not run for president. Both Mr Duterte and his daughter had topped recent opinion polls.

"It's possible that Sara Duterte and the father reconciled on strategy for one candidate for 2022," said political analyst Victor Manhit.

Ms Duterte-Carpio declined to comment on whether she and her father had reconciled on political strategy. She has been quoted by local media as saying she is open to running for president.

While Mr Duterte remains popular, his administration is facing growing criticism over its handling of the pandemic amid a resurgence in Covid-19 cases that has overwhelmed hospitals.

Mr Go's decision not to contest would have had Mr Duterte's approval, said analyst Earl Parreno of the Institute of Political and Electoral Reforms, who stressed that "nothing is final yet".

Candidacies need to be officially filed starting only in October.

REUTERS