President Duterte has just bared that he is retiring from politics as he endorses his long-time assistant to run for the post of vice president.
Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go made a surprise appearance at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), yesterday, Oct. 2, 2021, and stole the spotlight as he filed his Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) for vice president of the country, according to multiple sources.
Go was accompanied by President Duterte, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and Energy Secretary and ruling Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party president Alfonso Cusi, when he filed his CoC for vice president at around 3:30 in the afternoon, yesterday.
As this developed, the Associated Press reported that President Duterte has announced his retirement from politics consequently dropping plans to run as the country’s vice president. This paves the way for his daughter, Davao City mayor Sara Duterte for her presidential bid.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE RESIGNS FROM POLITICS
Speaking before the media in Manila, Duterte bared that many Filipinos have expressed their opposition to his vice presidential bid based on the results of surveys and feedback from public fora.
“The overwhelming sentiment of the Filipino is that I’m not qualified [to run for vice president] and it would be a violation of the constitution,” Duterte said.
“In obedience to the will of the people. I will follow what you wish and today I announce my retirement from politics,” he added.
The 76-year-old president, known for his deadly anti-drugs crackdown, brash rhetoric and unorthodox political style, earlier accepted the PDP-Laban’s nomination for him to seek the vice presidency in the May 9, 2022 elections.
The decision for him to run outraged many of his opponents, who have described him as a human rights calamity in the bastion of democracy in Asia, according to the Associated Press report.
The same report says that Duterte should expect a barrage of lawsuits when he finally exits the presidency by noon of June 30, 2021.
SARA RUNS FOR CITY MAYOR
A report yesterday afternoon revealed that Davao City mayor Sara Duterte already filed her CoC for city mayor, where she is running for a third term.
Mayor Sara Duterte is currently the top choice for president based on the Sept. 2021 Pulse Asia survey.
“I can confirm that Mayor Sara Duterte has filed her certificate of candidacy for mayor of Davao City,” Liloan, Cebu Mayor Christina Garcia Frasco, Sara’s spokesperson said.
NO MORE DUTERTE FOR PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT?
Mayor Sara Duterte has indicated that she is not running for the presidency if her father is running for vice president.
If there will be no changes, then there will be no candidate surnamed Duterte running for the top 2 positions in the country in next year’s polls.
Despite the news that Mayor Sara Duterte has filed her CoC for Davao City mayor, speculation remains high that she will be coming into the presidential derby via the backdoor—just like what her father did in 2015.
She may end up replacing a candidate, possibly the one that will be nominated by the PDP-Laban. The election rules of the country allow substitution until Nov. 15, 2021–except for independent candidates.