Philippines’ Duterte accepts 2022 vice presidential nomination

Duterte had urged senator and closest loyalist Christopher “Bong” Go to succeed him, but Go declined the party’s presidential nomination on Wednesday, saying his “heart and mind are focused on serving people.”The PDP-Laban party said it wants Go to change his mind.”We know he is competent and qualified to run,” senior official Melvin Matibag told a media briefing.Go’s declining of the nomination leaves open the possibility of Duterte’s daughter running for the presidency.Sara Duterte Carpio, 43, who replaced her father as mayor of Davao City and belongs to a different party, has given mixed messages about running, despite every opinion poll this year putting her as the number one presidential prospect.Earlier this year she told Reuters she had no interest in the job but last week said several politicians had approached her offering to run on her ticket. read moreAsked by Reuters on Wednesday if she would run, she said “no comment”.Her father has said he would withdraw if she seeks the presidency.Political analyst Temario Rivera said that is because Duterte would feel secure with his daughter in power, despite their differences and expectation that she would run the country her own way.”Duterte will still be okay with that arrangement,” he said. “Blood is thicker than water.”Political analyst Edmund Tayao said much could still change, even after next month’s deadline for entering the contest.”Nothing is final until the filing of candidacy and expiration of the time for substitution,” Tayao told Reuters.Earlier on Wednesday, Senator Panfilo Lacson, 73, a former police chief, was the first to declare his candidacy for the presidential election, running for a second time after his unsuccessful bid in 2004.