Duterte has no bet for next president (yet)

Despite claiming to have considered leaving his post numerous times, President Rodrigo Duterte has never pushed through with his resignation.

With only three years left in his term, he shared he is yet to name a person who he thinks could do the tough job.

During his speech at the oath-taking ceremony of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), he revealed no name is on the list.

“Wala pa akong nakita na new crop of politicians dito sa ating bayan ngayon. Frankly, wala akong nakita. Wala akong nakita na --- na puwede talagang maging presidente,” Duterte said.

A poll on May 9, 2022 Monday will determine who the next president will be.

One of the popular choices by the current administration's supporters is the president's daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. 

However in May 2019, he warned her last that presidency will destroy her.

In July, a viral social media post claimed that Vice President Leni Robredo said she was ready to take over presidency. Robredo’s camp immediately denied it. 

The following month, Robredo admitted in an interview with Bloomberg that she is open to run for presidency in 2022.

“I’m leaving everything open. We still have three years before the next presidential elections,” she said.

In January 2020, defeated vice president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. revealed that he has plans to run for a national position but did not specify if it was for presidency.

“My plan is I will be a candidate in the next election. For what, I will still have to decide,” Marcos said during a forum organized by the National Press Club (NPC). 

In 2018, Duterte became vocal about supporting current House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano for a presidential bid in the coming election. Cayetano was Duterte's running mate in the 2016 elections. 

However in November 2019, Cayetano denied positioning himself for the 2022 polls, saying there are other issues to look into.

Cayetano and Marcos lost to Robredo. A protest was filed by Marcos which, until these days, has not removed Robredo from office of the Vice President.

Among the incumbent senators who declined running for either president or vice president include Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Manny Pacquiao, and Grace Poe.  

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