A representative of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte holds his Certificate of Candidacy for Senator at the Commission on Elections in Manila, Philippines on Nov. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

       Manila (Kyodo) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will run for a senate seat in next year's elections, avoiding a potential faceoff with his daughter for the vice presidency, representatives said Monday.

       The 76-year-old president had previously said he would either retire from politics or run for the vice presidency, as his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, 43, is now doing despite opinion polls that had earlier this year ranked her as the top presidential prospect.

       Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, president of the PDP-Laban party, said Duterte filed his candidacy under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, or PDDS, an allied party.

       "President Duterte would be an excellent Senator and his leadership qualities and experience would no doubt be a welcome addition to the senate," he said in a statement.

       Long-time Duterte aide Sen. Bong Go, 47, is running for president under the same party despite being a PDP-Laban member, having earlier shifted his vice presidential candidacy to a presidential run.

       Duterte's daughter filed her candidacy on Saturday as the vice presidential candidate of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, an opposition party once led by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, after months of speculation that she would run for president.

       Monday was the deadline for the parties to change candidates whom they fielded during the official filing period last month.

       Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the party led by presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the 64-year-old son and namesake of the late dictator, has endorsed Duterte-Carpio as Marcos' running mate.

       Duterte is constitutionally limited to a single six-year term, which ends in June next year.

       Among presidential candidates are opposition icon and Vice President Leni Robredo, 56, retired boxing star Sen. Manny Pacquiao, 42, and Manila City Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, 47.

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