Vice President Jejomar Binay is considering Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte his possible running mate in the 2016 presidential elections.
In an interview with a local station on Thursday, Binay said Duterte was 鈥渜ualified鈥� to be the vice presidential bet of his party United Nationalist Alliance.
Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER PHOTOS
鈥淸Duterte is] being considered. I don鈥檛 think he would be angry about it. He鈥檚 qualified. He鈥檚 a successful mayor,鈥� Binay said.
鈥�Sabi ko nga, there was a time na-feature pa kaming tatlo, successful mayors鈥�ako, si Lito Atienza at saka si Mayor Duterte (As I said, there was a time when the three of us were featured as successful mayors鈥攎e, Lito Atienza and Mayor Duterte),鈥� he added.
Duterte, however, has announced he is not running for any position in 2016.
Speaking to the Inquirer by phone on Friday, Duterte said he had repeatedly announced he was not running because he could not afford to do so.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have money and I don鈥檛 want to beg for money. This Vice President 鈥� I have to spend but I don鈥檛 have the money. I don鈥檛 like asking around for money, especially from other politicians because I don鈥檛 want to incur debt of gratitude,鈥� he said, adding that he had been a politician and mayor of Davao City for years and there was no single instance he shopped around for campaign funds.
Duterte聽said he had been going around the country not to promote his potential candidacy for a higher post but to rally people to support federalism.
鈥淚 have been promoting federalism because there have been clashes due to BBL but I am not running. There was never an instance that I said I鈥檓 interested to be president or vice president,鈥� the mayor said.
He added 鈥渙nly those who have resources should run.鈥�
Binay, who has suffered blows from the Anti-Money Laundering Council report detailing the movement of the money which allegedly came from corruption he and his family have been accused of, has not yet picked a running mate for the presidential race.
He has been saying he will not withdraw from the race despite the string of corruption allegations thrown at him.
Running mate qualifications
Binay is on a tour in Visayas and Mindanao this week, visiting the province of Davao del Norte and Davao City, which is Duterte鈥檚 stronghold.
Asked about the qualifications he was looking for in a running mate, he replied: 鈥淪omeone who has the experience and if possible someone who can understand the economy so we can improve it.鈥�
Accompanied by Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian in the tour, Binay also disclosed he had invited the congressman to join his senatorial lineup.
鈥淗e was a mayor before becoming a congressman,鈥� Binay said referring to Gatchalian.
On Sen. Grace Poe鈥檚 rejection of his offer to be his running mate, however, Binay said he respected her decision.
Poe, who had emerged as a possible presidential candidate in the next year鈥檚 elections, said she did not see herself as the Vice President鈥檚 running mate.
Binay face mounting calls to explain the serious allegations of corruption against him, particularly the information on the 242 bank accounts and insurance policies which he, the members of his family and close allies allegedly own.
But Binay has kept dismissing the AMLC report as an attack led by his political rivals due to his determination to run for president in 2016.
鈥淚 have declared my presidential run too early that鈥檚 why I am at the receiving end of these lies and demolition jobs,鈥� Binay said. With a report by Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao聽
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