Duterte declares support for Villar in 2022
President Duterte on Thursday declared his support for former Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. if he decides to run for president in 2022. At the proclamation rally of the administration senatorial ticket in Bulacan, the President expressed his willingness to support Villar, also a former speaker of the House of Representatives, after revealing that the former senator and his wife Senator Cynthia Villar supported his 2016 presidential run.
“One of the factors kung bakit ako pumayag, si Speaker. Kaya kung may presidente na suportahan ko si Speaker. Sabi ko sa kanya, kung magtakbo ka, sa iyo ako Speaker Villar [One of the factors I agreed to run was the Speaker. So if the Speaker will run for president, I will support him. I told him, 'If you run, I'll back you Speaker Villar],” Duterte said.
Duterte admitted he was hesitant to run for president three years ago but the Villars convinced him and offered financial support.
“Nag-dinner kami diyan sa EDSA – sa Chinese – EDSA Plaza. Nagdala siya ng pera sa bag. Sabi niya pangumpisa mo lang kung gusto mo lang tumakbo, ‘pag hindi iyo na ‘yan [We had dinner at a Chinese restaurant in EDSA plaza and he brought a bag of money. He said this will be your seed money if you decide to run. If not, that's yours],” the former Davao City mayor said.
“Nung talagang ano na – ang kampanya papalapit na. Si Ma’am pati si Speaker tinawag nila ako, isang hotel na suite, malaki, may sala. Usap kami. Sabi niya, sabi ni Speaker pati ni Ma’am, 'Rody, tumakbo ka. Baka makatulong ka pa sa bayan' [When the campaign was near, Ma'am and the Speaker called me to a hotel suit and we talked. They said, 'Rody, go ahead and run since you might help the country],” he added.
Duterte said he has been friends with Villar since their days in Congress, adding the former lawmaker has been “helping me all the time.” Duterte was congressman of Davao City when Villar was then speaker of the House.
Villar, a real estate magnate, lost his presidential bid in 2010 to then Senator Benigno Aquino III. The former lawmaker, reportedly one of the country's richest men, has focused on running his business since his defeat.
In the same speech, the Present endorsed the senatorial bid of Villar's wife, saying she was “just like a mother to the nation.” He also described Sen. Cynthia as a very dedicated public servant and very industrious.
“Wala itong marinig ka na may kalokohang corruption. Mayaman man si ma’am, eh,” he said.
No plans yet
Notwithstanding President pledged of support, former Senate President Villar will not be swayed into another attempt for the presidency.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, wife of the former senator, thanked Duterte for the vow of support to her husband but stressed that her husband is not planning another presidential bid.
“Alam ninyo, ang presidency ay destiny. Kung sa iyo, sa iyo iyan (You know the presidency is destiny. If it’s yours that would be yours to take),” she said.
The lady solon, who is seeking a fresh mandate for senator, said there are no plans for her husband to run.
“Mahirap na pinaplano mo ang buhay na maging presidente tapos hindi mo naman pala destiny maging president (If ’s difficult to plan a life of becoming a president only to find out that it’s not your destiny to become one),” she stressed.
She added: “Let us just do what we like to do.”
Meanwhyile, Duterte and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte strongly endorsed the reelection bid of Senator Villar.
Father and daughter listed two separate slates of senatorial bets that deserved their endorsement.
The president named 11 in his list of senatorial bets while the younger Duterte, through her Hugpong ng Pagbabago, endorsed 13.