(Eagle News)—President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, Feb. 15, vowed to support former Senate President Manny Villar should he decide to seek the presidency again.
“Kung may presidente na suportahan ko, si speaker. Sabi ko sa kanya, kung magtakbo ka, sa iyo ako. Speaker Villar,” Duterte said.
Villar, who owns Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc., was Speaker of the House of Representatives when Duterte was congressman from 1998 to 2001.
According to Duterte, Villar and his wife Cynthia, who is running for a Senate seat in May, were instrumental in his decision to run for president in the 2016 elections.
He also lauded Cynthia, calling her an “industrious public servant.”
“Wala itong marinig ka na may kalokohang corruption. Mayaman man si ma’am eh,” he said.