The PDP-Laban party announced on Tuesday that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has agreed to run as a vice presidential candidate in next year’s elections.

The announcement came ahead of a national assembly meeting where the PDP-Laban party is expected to endorse Mr. Duterte’s aide and incumbent senator Christopher Bong Go as its presidential candidate in the 2022 elections.

“Mr Duterte is making the sacrifice and heeding the clamor of the people,” said Mr Karlo Nograles, executive vice-president of the ruling PDP-Laban party.

The president of the Philippines is limited to one six-year term, and Mr Duterte’s is set to end in June of next year.

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Political observers, on the other hand, see his vice-presidential campaign as a backdoor to the presidency.

Mr. Nograles claims that the move will ensure the continuation of the administration’s programs, including those aimed at combating illegal drugs, that have been in place for the past five years.