MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte hinted late Saturday that he may be running as mayor of Davao City in the 2025 midterm elections after asking reporters in a press conference in the city whether he should do so.

"I'm going to run, because you asked for it," Duterte told reporters in Filipino.

He declared that he would return to his post that he held before becoming president and his son, current mayor Sebastian Duterte, should be his vice mayor.

"Let's run for mayor... He [Baste] should be the vice mayor," Duterte said in Filipino and English.

Earlier during the press briefing, the former president said he has no plans of pursuing national office, particularly as a senator, due to his age.

"I think at my age of 73, I don't think I can handle it, let us be realistic about it," Duterte told reporters.

"I've been your mayor for so many years now, do you think I can carry a national campaign at my age or do you want me to die? I'm just going to collapse," he added.

He also said the media was merely speculating about plans for him to be a senator in next year's polls.

Duterte previously was Davao City mayor from 1988 to 1998, from 2001 to 2010, and again from 2013 to 2016, before becoming president from 2016 to 2022. He also served as vice mayor from 1986 to 1987 and from 2010 to 2013 and also was the city's 1st district representative from 1998 to 2001.

Current Vice President Sara Duterte served as Davao mayor from 2016 to 2022, while her father was president.

The older Duterte is currently the chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP-Laban) and hosts the public service program Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa after leaving Malacañang.