There is no violation of the Constitution if President Rodrigo Duterte runs in the 2022 national elections as vice president, which he is now considering, according to his party.
According to PDP-Laban acting secretary-general Melvin Matibag, the party believes that Duterte’s programs have been successful, so it should continue even as vice president.
“Wala naman po kasing naging prohibition ang pagtakbo ng isang naging presidente sa mas mababang posisyon. Ang prohibition po ng Konstitusyon ay du’n lamang po sa pag-reelect as president,” said Matibag.
But for the opposition coalition 1Sambayanan, this is big nonsense.
“The alleged VP run of the President not only makes a mockery of the Constitution but a joke of the worst kind. It is laughable and the height of impertinence to the Filipino people,” said 1Sambayan convenor Howard Calleja.
“Ang nakakatawa pa dito, ikaw ang mamimili ng iyong presidente, obviously ‘yung presidente mo is a puppet, para bang ikaw pa rin ang kumukumpas,” he added.
On Monday, the PDP-Laban national council accepted a resolution asking President Rodrigo Duterte to run for vice president in Election 2022. He will also choose who he wants to be the party’s candidate in the presidential election.
Duterte running for VP a joke, says opposition
According to PDP-Laban, vice president for external affairs Raul Lambino, the party received the resolution from other regions, local government units, and party chapters, who want Duterte to run as the vice president whose term as president will end next year.
Earlier, President Harry Roque said that Duterte would run as vice president based on God’s message.
Meanwhile, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said Duterte should be the running mate of his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, whose name is included in emerging surveys that could run for president in 2022.
Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo has yet to decide her plans for the 2022 elections.
In an interview with her on the online program “#Chooseday Tuesday” that aired on YouTube on Tuesday, Robredo only confirmed that she would remain in public service.
“Iyong sigurado ko lang na gusto ko pa din na public service-related, whether elected, whether appointed, iyon lang ang sigurado ko at this point. Iyon lang ang sigurado ko at this point,” she said.
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