“This is nothing but undisguised arrogance and greed for power, not to mention the height of pretentiousness.”
That was the reaction of former Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela on Tuesday, August 24, to President Rodrigo Duterte’s accepting the nomination to run as vice president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in the 2022 national elections.
Duterte’s decision to seek the vice presidency next year was announced by PDP-Laban executive vice president and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles in a statement issued Tuesday.
“I think it runs counter to the intent of the Constitution. It’s a devious way of circumventing the provision against reelection,” Coscolluela said.
“The intention is to shield himself from prosecution and it is totally self-serving. Nene Pimentel, founder of PDP Laban, must be weeping in shame over the bastardization of his party, “ he added.*