By Al Jacinto/Manila Times

A deafening silence broken by muffled sobs became the anti-climactic ending to what many believed was Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s much-awaited announcement that he is gunning for the presidency.
Duterte, the tough-talking mayor of the country’s largest city, yesterday faced reporters at the Grand Men Seng Hotel where he called a news conference to make a big announcement.
The 70-year-old, who in the past year had gone on a speaking tour to rally support for a shift in the form of government to federalism, was rumoured to be eyeing the highest post in the land in next year’s elections.
Yesterday’s news conference, which many expected was Duterte’s acceptance of a strong clamour for him to lead the charge to Malacanang in 2016, dashed the hopes of his supporters as his critics rejoiced.
“I would like to categorically state now and end the agony of those waiting, of those who believed that I will not run for president. I have no ambition to be president in 2016, my Little Girl Sara and I already talked about it… I asked her to run for mayor. In 2016, I will retire from public life for good. That is the agreement in the family,” he said.
Sara refers to his daughter who had served as Davao City mayor.
Duterte said his campaign for a shift to a federal form of government will continue and that he would campaign for candidates from Mindanao who would support his advocacy.
He apologised to the Muslims, who were pushing him to run for the presidency, and told them to stay with him in his campaign for federalism.
“And to the Moro people… my friends, the Moro people, forgive me, but whoever will support federalism, just follow me because it is for you. Let us choose candidates, who will come from your ranks and who will support federalism and I will play an active role, but not as a politician,” Duterte said.
“We will look for candidates who would want to help the Moro people and who would give them what they deserve. Return what is theirs and give them justice… but I am warning everybody if the Bangsamoro Basic Law is not passed, nothing short of federalism will appease the Muslim community. Remember, nothing short of federalism can make Mindanao peaceful,” he added.
“Whether the BBL is passed, we have to confer with Nur Misuari and everybody else in Mindanao. What is asked by the people in Mindanao, all of them, if there is no BBL, give them federalism and I say nothing short of federalism will make this place Mindanao peaceful. I am giving them this warning, either act on the BBL and take care of Misuari and everybody else… especially if the BBL is not acceptable to the Moro people, the amended version BBL. I hope that version will satisfy the Moro people because if it does not, then you have to go to federalism,” Duterte said.
Misuari is the founding chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the first Filipino Muslim organisation that initiated an armed rebellion to establish an Islamic homeland in southern Mindanao.
At present, the MNLF is insisting that Manila fully honour a peace agreement that was signed between it and the government a few years ago.
Lawyer Alexis Lumbatan, who was among Duterte’s supporters in attendance, said, “There goes our dream for a better Philippines.”
Duterte’s announcement was consistent with his previous public statements that he is not interested in the presidency.
He repeatedly cited a flawed government system, opposition from his family and lack of funds, among others as reasons why he should be counted out of the 2016 race.
“I’m not running for president and I never wanted to be one. I don’t really like the idea. My family also does not like it, including one of my children who was a mayor and she’s vocal about it,” Duterte told the Asia CEO Forum in Makati City last June.
Anticipating a declaration for 2016, Malacanang earlier in the day, issued a statement saying they see no problem if Duterte decides to join the presidential race. “The decision is his to make,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a news briefing.
“If one is qualified or wants to serve the public, he should be given the chance to run,” he added.