Padilla urges ex-president Duterte, one of children to run for senator 

Rodrigo Duterte is greeted by supporters at Lipa City hall in Batangas City during his campaign sortie in this file photo taken on April 18, 2016.
INQUIRER PHOTO / RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robin Padilla on Thursday said he is urging former President Rodrigo Duterte and “one of his children” to run for senator.

Padilla, who is the president of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), made the remark as he accompanied the party’s senatorial bets during their certificate of candidacy filing at Manila Hotel Garden City on Thursday.

“Ako, hanggang ngayon, nakikiusap kay mayor na tumakbo… Gusto ko na tumakbo siya, kung hindi siya isa sa mga anak niya ang tumakbo [for Senator],” Padilla said during a chance interview there.

(I, until now, is still urging mayor (Duterte) to run. I want him to run, or if not him, one of his children should run

“Kasi talagang para sa amin, napakahalaga sa PDP na may Duterte — kasi ang PDP ay Duterte,” he also said.

(Because for us, it is very important for PDP to have Duterte [on their Senatorial slate] because the “PDP” is “Duterte”.)

The former president is the current chairman of PDP.

READ: Duterte flips ICC off in profanity-laden attack: I don’t recognize them

In June, Vice President Sara Duterte said his father and Davao 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte will run for senator in next year’s elections.

However, the former Chief Executive denied that he will run for Senator in the upcoming midterm polls.

Padilla accompanied Senate reelectionists Sen. Bato Dela Rosa and Sen. Bong Go, as well as senatorial aspirant Phillip Salvador, for their COC filing.