Former President Rodrigo Duterte in Hong Kong. Photo: Office of the Vice President
MANILA, Philippines – Former President Rodrigo Duterte is bent on pushing his mayoral bid for his bailiwick Davao City even in detention halfway around the globe.
“Yes yes, he’s looking forward actually na mag mayor kaya kanina sabi niya hindi pa naman ako mayor so dito muna ako,” his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte said to reporters outside the detention facility in her recent update about the former state chief’s political plans.
Asked if the former leader’s detention will affect his candidacy, the daughter said, “he’s only an accused and an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, masyado pa tayong malayo doon sa he’s a convict.”
According to the vice president, the former president is even making light of the situation by being positive despite an impending legal battle.
“Wala pa naman daw siyang ginagawa sa labas kasi hindi pa naman daw siya mayor so might as well tumira muna siya sa loob,” the vice president said.
The younger Duterte said her father maintains that “he said he doesn’t regret anything that he did sa pagtatrabaho niya para sa bayan at nakita naman daw ng bayan kung ano ‘yung naging resulta ng kanyang serbisyo.”
Duterte’s lead defense counsel, British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, an international law expert said they will give the “strongest defense” to the former president and is confident that he will get an acquittal.
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Republika News 
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