President Rodrigo Duterte said he is being convinced to run in the upcoming elections amid reports that some local leaders have expressed support for him.
In the Aug. 26 Talk to the People, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said a number of mayors are asking Duterte to join the vice presidential race to ensure “continuity of what the administration has started.”
“Thank you for the endorsements that you have secured for me. Mukhang tatakbo na talaga ako, Sal. Nako-convince na ako,” Duterte said.
In case of victory in his vice presidential bid, Duterte said he would begin auditing the government, following his queries on who audits the Commission on Audit (COA).
“Somebody should do it. I will do that if I become vice president. Ako na lang rin ang mag-audit sa lahat ng gobyerno. Lahat, pati ‘yung akin, mag-umpisa ako sa akin,” he said.
Duterte also asked the COA to provide “enough elbow room” to government agencies and instrumentalities to respond to their findings.
“We know that we should comply, there’s no problem about it, but you know, can we just have enough elbow room at this time? Do not adopt the standards of the pre-pandemic days… There is no corruption, there is no loss of money,” he said. – Report from Mela Lesmoras/AG-rir
