JUNE appears to be the month of major political decisions.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will formally decide next month whether he will join the race for the presidency, according to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, the president of the mayor’s PDP-Laban party.
But before that, the tough-talking Duterte may have to consider an offer to be the running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay, after the latter revealed he is eyeing the mayor as his partner in the 2016 race.
Pimentel, however, said he thinks Duterte will thumb down the offer.
“Yup, that will surely be rejected,” Pimentel said in a text message. “Mayor Duterte might even be insulted.”
It was also “unacceptable” to Pimentel that Duterte would join Binay in one ticket.
Pimentel chairs the Blue Ribbon subcommittee conducting an inquiry on alleged anomalies involving Binay. The vice president’s camp has been critical of the hearings, saying these were part of a political inquisition to bring down his chances in the polls.
The PDP-Laban wants Duterte to run for President, but has left it to him to make the choice. The latest word from Duterte’s camp is he would make his formal decision in June, said Pimentel.
President Aquino is also expected to announce his anointed one in June.
Duterte has been going around the country on a “listening tour” as he ponders his options, and recently flew to Hong Kong to meet with Filipinos there.
If Duterte, nicknamed “The Punisher,” will run for President, human rights issues are expected to come to the fore.