Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said that it is very important that the issue on whether President Rodrigo Duterte can run for vice president in 2022 be brought to the Supreme Court to decide.
“And hopefully the Supreme Court will judiciously and expeditiously decide on the matter,” Lacson said on Wednesday, August 25.
While an incumbent president cannot run for reelection, if Duterte runs for vice president and wins, and there is a vacancy in the presidency the question is can he fill that vacancy, Lacson said.
“That is an issue that has to be resolved by the Supreme Court,” Lacson said.
Duterte would drop his intent to run for vice president in 2022 if his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio seeks the presidency, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Wednesday.
Duterte made the pronouncement during his pre-recorded Talk to the People delivered Tuesday night, which was edited out, he said.
Roque said he was not sure why it was removed.
Duterte said he and Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go would not run for vice president and president if his daughter announces her presidential bid, Roque said.
The Davao mayor, in a statement issued Wednesday, said “I strongly suggest to the President and Senator Go to own up publicly their decision to run as a tandem…I respectfully advise them to stop talking about me and make me the reason for them running or not running.”*