J M
Several politicians have spoken about the rumored Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and her father, President Rodrigo Duterte‘s rumored 2022 Presidential Elections tandem.
The idea was first floated by the President’s chief legal counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo. It was stated that the younger Duterte will run for the Presidential seat while her father will be her Vice Presidential partner.
Senator Panfilo Lacson is against the idea by saying that it’s “a bit too much” as the Philippines is not Davao City.
“If they can do that in Davao City, I don’t think Filipinos are ready for a Davao City-like political situation or arrangement. I don’t think so,” Lacson said in an interview.
Senator Bong Go was also pushed by some members of PDP-Laban to run for the Presidency.
“This is not to take anything away from Senator Go, or Sara Duterte or President Duterte. But I don’t think Filipinos are ready to see a Davao City-like political situation in the whole country.”
Lacson even compared the Philippines to being a barangay of Davao City if ever that happens.
“Philippine is just a barangay of Davao City kung ganun ang magiging situation,” he said.
“I think it’s a bit too much. While you say it’s constitutional, it’s legal, and it’s really up to (the) electorate to decide. But you know sa akin, this is personal ano, parang hindi magandang tingnan.”
On the other hand, House Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano said that he doesn’t think anything is wrong with the Duterte-Duterte tandem. He stated that under the 1987 Constitution, everybody has the right to run as long as they meet the qualifications.
“It is clear in the Constitution that everybody, for as long as you are qualified, pwede kang tumakbo. ‘Yung Duterte-Duterte o whatever tandem, it will not matter for as long as they are qualified,” he said.
“We have all the right, and it is also the right of whoever that will want to tandem, even father and daughter tandem, for as long as they are qualified.”
According to political analyst Ramon Casiple, the Duterte-Duterte tandem may not be an easy task as it may face challenges. One of which is because they’re both from Mindanao.
“There’s an inherent problem there because both are from Mindanao. Mindanao has a very low number of voters,” he said.
“Considering this will be a strong election, meaning there are other candidates who are possible winners, for me, it’s a negative factor if it’s a Duterte-Duterte.”
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque then clarified that the calls for the tandem are not from the current administrator.
“Hindi po galing sa gobyerno yang Duterte-Duterte,” Roque said during a press briefing.
