Gusto ni Pangulong Duterte na kumandidato sa pagka-senador si Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
Katuwiran ni Pangulong Duterte nakakapaghinayang kung hindi magiging bahagi ng gobyerno si Tugade.
Ginawa niya ang pahayag matapos ilatag ni Tugade ang mga nagawang proyekto ng kanyang tanggapan sa nakalipas na limang taon.
“The country needs you real bad. So, I’d like to congratulate you. We still have a few months to go. Hope you can complete the projects. And I hope you consider running for senator of the Republic of the Philippines. Sayang ka,” dagdag pa ni Pangulong Duterte matapos purihin si Tugade.
Kasunod nito tinawag din ng Punong Ehekutibo na ‘senator’ si Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo at sinabi; “it will be a waste if you”re just there on the sidelines. Filipinos will benefit from your brain,” Duterte told Panelo.