Philippines' Duterte to run for Senate in 2022

[MANILA] Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday filed to contest the Senate elections next year, seeking a way to stay in politics while facing an international probe into his deadly drug war.

The 76-year-old, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a second six-year term, filed his candidacy at the Commission on Elections office, minutes before a deadline to join the race. A lawyer submitted the paperwork on his behalf, quelling speculation he would run for vice president - the same post his daughter, Sara, is contesting.

The older Duterte had previously said he would run for vice-president, then changed his mind and announced plans to retire from politics.

But presidential communications chief Martin Andanar told local media on Saturday that Duterte had flagged plans to run for the country's second-highest office after all, and would file his candidacy on Monday.

There were questions over whether his daughter would make a late switch into the presidential race, after hundreds of her fans gathered outside the Commission on Elections office on Monday. She had been widely expected to seek the presidency in a bid to succeed her father, and potentially protect him from criminal charges in the Philippines and ICC investigators.

But on Saturday, she filed for the vice-presidential race and that appeared unchanged by Monday's 5 pm (same time in Singapore) deadline.

AFP