Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday he was retiring from politics, noting that he will not stand for vice president in next year's election.
"Today, I announce my retirement from politics," Duterte said, accompanying loyalist Senator Christopher "Bong" Go from their ruling PDP-Laban party as he registered to run for vice president.
Duterte is not eligible to run again for the top job as the constitution sets a single-six-year term limit for the Philippine president.
Political observers had long suspected Duterte could spring a surprise, such as a presidential run by his daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, next year.
"This allows Sara Duterte to run," said Antonio La Vina, professor of law and politics at the Ateneo de Manila University.
La Vina noted that he could not rule out the possibility the firebrand leader could have a change of heart and be Go's substitute.
Duterte-Carpio, who replaced her father as mayor of Davao, said last month she was not running for higher office next year, explaining that she and her father had agreed only one of them would run for national office in 2022.
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