Willie Revillame hints at running for senator in 2025 elections: 'Palagay ko, handa na ako'
From giving jackets, phones, and stacks of cash to the impoverished on his noontime shows, Willie Revillame hinted at running for senator in the 2025 midterm elections.
"Last March, two years ago, pinatawag po ako ni Sen. Bong Go. Pinatawag din po ako ng mahal na pangulo (Rodrigo Duterte),” said Revillame when he took the stage during a prayer rally in Davao City on Jan. 28, a live video of which is available on Duterte’s Facebook page.
Revillame said he and his lawyer met with Duterte, Go, and executive secretary Salvador Medialdea in Malacañang from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
“‘Yun po ‘yung pagkakataong pinapatakbo niya (Duterte) akong senador. During that time, meron akong programa sa GMA-7 na Wowowin,” Revillame said, to which he explained that he still had contractual obligations with the network.
“Hindi ko pa po kaya. Pag handa na ako, pag-iisipan ko,” he recalled telling Duterte.
Revillame said that after turning down the offer, he took the time to look back and reflect on it. He then addressed Duterte and Go, who’s in the crowd.
“Pinagdasal ko itong mabuti,” Revillame said, as he envisioned a country that’s supposedly free of disagreement if there were no “political colors.”
“Palagay ko, handa na ako,” he said. “Handa akong gumawa ng kabutihan. Handa akong magsilbi hindi lang sa bayan.”
Revillame ended his speech by saying he will follow whatever Duterte tells him to do. He, however, didn’t explicitly state his senatorial plans.
Article VI Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution states that a senator must be:
- a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
- at least 35 years old on election day;
- able to read and write;
- a registered voter; and
- a resident of the Philippines for at least two years before election day.
OCTA Research’s “Tugon ng Masa” survey conducted on Dec. 10 to 14 and released on Jan. 2 found that Revillame was among the Filipino people’s choice for senator.