Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said President Rodrigo Duterte was just “teasing” the people when he said he would run for vice president to evade possible criminal cases.
“Tinutukso lang tayo ni President Duterte, he is a lawyer, ang binabasa ni President Duterte is the Philippine Constitution. Hindi na niya pinagaaksayahan ng oras ang PDP-Laban Constitution,” Pimentel said.
(He is just teasing us. He is a lawyer, he is reading the Philippine Constitution and he is not wasting time reading the PDP-Laban Constitution.)
“Alam ni President Duterte na walang immunity ang vice president from suit, wala namang nakasulat doon eh. So alam niya ‘yan, tinutukso niya lang tayo, tinitingnan lang niya reaksyon ng taumbayan saka ng mga lawyers para malaman niya kung sino ang bright na lawyer dito sa hindi bright na lawyer,” he added.
(He knows that a vice president has no immunity from suit. He is just teasing us and he is just checking the reaction of the public, including the lawyers, so he will know who are the bright ones.)
During the oath-taking of PDP-Laban officials, Duterte said he would for vice president to escape possible charges.
Duterte just ‘teasing’ public on running for VP statements: Pimentel
“Tinatakot, mademanda raw ako. Eh sabi ng batas, pag Presidente ka o Bise Presidente, may immunity ka. Eh di tatakbo na lang ako na Bise Presidente. Then after that, tatakbo ako ng Bise Presidente, then after that, tatakbo akong Bise Presidente,” Duterte said.
(They try to scare me. But under the law, the President and Vice President have immunity, so I will run for Vice President instead, then run for Vice President again, and again, and again.)
Meanwhile, PDP-Laban secretary general Attorney Melvin Matibag, said Duterte is known for “playing with words.”
“Alam naman po natin ang pangulo, he play with words eh, mga legal jargon, sinasabi niya ‘yan at minsan nga sinasabi pa niya, niloloko at iniinis lang niya ang oposisyon kaya niya sinasabi. Kaya nga po ang gawin natin, hintayin natin kung siya’y magfafile,” Matibag said.
(We know that the President plays with words, with legal jargons. Sometimes, he’s saying that he is just teasing the opposition. So for now, let’s just wait if he will file or not.)
“”Yan pong mga paguusap na ‘yan ay masasagot lamang pag nangyari na, pag mayroon na pong right for judicial adjudication. So tingnan po natin,” he added.
(We can debate about this if he has already filed his candidacy, when there’s already a right for judicial adjudication…)
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.