President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday formally accepted his
nomination as the official vice presidential candidate of the ruling
party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), to
ensure the “continuity” of his efforts to bring progress to the
country.

Apart from Duterte, the PDP-Laban also announced that its official
presidential candidate is Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.

During the PDP-Laban’s national convention and proclamation of its
candidates for the 2022 national and local elections, Duterte thanked
his party mates for their “continued trust and confidence” in his
leadership and for picking him as the party’s vice presidential
candidate.

“No words can express my gratitude for your continued trust and
confidence in my leadership and for nominating me as the party’s
official vice presidential candidate in the 2022 elections,” Duterte
said in his keynote speech delivered in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Duterte also wiped his tears, as he expressed his intent to continue
serving the country after his presidency ends in June next year.

He said he would be gunning for vice presidency to make sure that his
administration’s efforts to eradicate illegal drugs, terrorism, and
corruption in government would continue to bear fruit beyond his
six-year term.

“Alam mo kung bakit ako tatakbo ng vice presidency (Do you know why I
will seek the vice presidency)? Is it ambition? Maybe. But is it
really a sense of love of country? Yes. Is it really because I want to
see the continuity of my efforts even though I may not be the one
giving the direction. Baka makatulong lang ako (I hope I can help),”
Duterte said.

Duterte expressed hope that Filipino voters would let him serve them
again by electing him next year as the country’s second top official.

“I am hopeful that this will allow me to continue serving the Filipino
people and lead the entire nation towards greater progress,” he said.

Achieve ‘genuine, lasting’ prosperity

The PDP-Laban formally endorsed Duterte as its vice presidential
candidate during its national assembly in Pampanga.

The party also proclaimed Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Chief
Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Transport Secretary Arthur
Tugade, and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez as its official senatorial
candidates.

Its guest senatorial candidates include Presidential Spokesperson
Harry Roque, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Presidential
Anti-Corruption Commission chairperson Greco Belgica, and House Deputy
Speaker Rodante Marcoleta.

Duterte called on the newly-proclaimed candidates of the PDP-Laban for
next year’s elections to seek “genuine and lasting prosperity” for the
country.

“Let me congratulate the party’s official candidates for the 2022
national and local elections. I trust that you will duly prepare for
your future responsibilities as elected public officials. Regardless
of the election results and even beyond the election period, I expect
you to uphold the party’s principles and aspirations,” he said.

Duterte also encouraged them to stay united and focus on improving the
quality of life of every Filipino, especially amid the coronavirus
disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

He likewise told them to disregard the political noise and just focus
on serving the public.

“Let us not be hindered by those who only seek personal political gain
and instead realign ourselves with the party’s objectives,” Duterte
said. “I am confident that with a strong resolve and solidarity we’ll
once again claim victory in the upcoming elections.”