Mr Duterte took office in 2016 and launched a crackdown on illegal drugs that killed more than 6,000 petty suspects and alarmed Western governments and human rights groups.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he is withdrawing from announced plans to run for vice president in next year’s elections and will retire from politics after his term ends.
Mr Duterte announced the surprise decision on 2 October with his former longtime aide, Sen Bong Go, who instead filed his candidacy for vice president at a commission at the election centre.
The Philippine president is limited by the constitution to a six-year term and opponents said they would question the validity of Mr Duterte’s declared vice-presidency before the Supreme Court.
Mr Duterte took office in 2016 and launched a crackdown on illegal drugs that killed more than 6,000 petty suspects and alarmed Western governments and human rights groups. The International Criminal Court is investigating the murders.
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