MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has said no to an offer to run for senator in the 2022 polls. But his “friends” in the Cabinet are gearing up for the race.
In a tweet Thursday, Locsin said he told President Rodrigo Duterte that he deems it “an infinitely higher honor” to step down with him once his term ends in June next year.
“No greater honor than to walk away from it all with such a president,” he also said.
“Friends in Cabinet are running for the Senate; those I deeply admire,” Manila’s top diplomat, however, noted.
He did not name the Cabinet members gunning for Senate seats in next year’s elections.
Friends in Cabinet are running for the Senate; those I deeply admire. I already declined; telling the President I deem it an infinitely higher honor to walk away from power and position beside him in June 2022. No greater honor than to walk away from it all with such a president.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) February 18, 2021
Locsin was appointed as Department of Foreign Affairs chief in 2018. Before this, he was the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
He also served as press secretary under President Corazon Aquino and Makati City congressman during the time of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.