Davao City Vice Mayor Bernie Al-ag officially announced he will quit politics right after the 2019 elections.
In a press conference in his office on Monday, Al-ag broke speculations about his possible candidacy for vice mayor, saying that his affiliated party, the Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNP), has already selected a running mate for Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“I respect the decision of the Party and will continue to give my full support to all the official candidates of HNP,” Al-ag said.
He then thanked everyone, including President Rodrigo Duterte. Mayor Sara, and First District congressional candidate Paolo Duterte, members of the City Council and the employees of the city government for supporting his short stint as vice mayor.
It may be recalled that Al-ag was appointed vice mayor after Paolo Duterte resigned from the post sometime last December. Al-ag topped the city council derby in the Third District and his percentage of votes was higher than those of the topnotchers in the First and Second Districts.
He also thanked his family, including his wife Cherry Faye, for their support in his job as prsiding officer of the city council.
He also said that the mayor was already informed about his decision not to run for any position in 2019.
When asked about the possibility of an offering for a higher post from the national government, the vice mayor says he has to think about it for he says he wants to be a private citizen after his term ends on June 30 next year.
Al-ag carried out the Vice Mayor position on December 25, Christmas Day last year, after Presidential son Paolo stepped down from his position due to the issues that surrounds his name, including the smuggling allegations at the Bureau of Customs to which he was implicated and his conflict with daughter, Isabelle Duterte.
Before accepting the position, Al-ag was majority leader in the 18th Davao City Council.
Al-ag started his political career in 2010 after winning as 3rd District City Councilor.
During the 2016 election, has earned the highest votes for the third district for the Third District Council Representative with 117,764.
Meanwhile, his brother, former Councilor and now Barangay Bangkas Heights Chairman Wilberto Al-ag, will be seeking again for candidacy as city councilor.
The older Al-ag had already served for three terms from 2004 to 2010.
