Davao Mayor Duterte says he will not run for President

It’s final: Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will not run for president in the 2016 elections.

“After consulting my family and everybody else connected to my life, I would like to categorically state now and also for the agony of those waiting for those who believe in me: hindi ako tatakbo pagkapresidente,” Duterte said.

“Wala ako ambisyon in 2016. In 2016, I will retire from public life for good. I believe it’s no longer my time to be in politics,” he added.

Duterte was teary-eyed when he made his announcement and did not entertain any questions from reporters.

Duterte said he will only take back his pronouncement if Vice President Jejomar Binay, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Senator Grace Poe were “abducted by aliens.”

“If Binay, Grace and Mar suddenly disappear, if they are abducted by aliens, there would be no candidate; then that’s the time I would run,” he said.

The latest Pulse Asia survey placed Duterte in third place, behind Poe and Binay, while an SWS poll placed him at fourth behind Poe, Binay and Roxas.

Duterte also clarified that his pronoucement that he will no longer seek the presidency was “not a strategy.”

“It’s a statement coming from the heart. That is the decision of the family,” he said.

“We can’t just utter words and then take them back. It’s not a rubber band,” Duterte added.

Malacañang, for its part, said it respects the decision of Duterte.

“We respect Mayor Duterte’s decision. Having dedicated many years to public service, he deserves an opportunity to devote his talents and time to other worthy endeavors,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.