“I am going to run for vice-presidency,” Rodrigo Duterte announced in a pre-recorded speech, confirming the statement released earlier by his party the PDP-Laban.
The Philippine president declared himself a candidate for the country’s vice-presidency on Tuesday evening to continue his “crusade” against drugs and the rebels, a decision denounced by the opposition who sees it as a “smokescreen” and a parade against possible legal proceedings.
Elected in 2016 President of the Philippines
Rodrigo Duterte, elected head of the Philippines in 2016, had hinted that he could run for a second term, even if the Constitution forbids it. “I may not have the power to give direction or direction, but I will still be able to express my opinion publicly,” continued the president.
Since taking power, he has led a bloody campaign against drug users and drug dealers, which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people, according to NGOs. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in June called for the opening of an investigation into thousands of murders committed in the context of this “war”, considering that this could amount to “crime against humanity”.
In the presidential race next May, the PDP-Laban is expected to support Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who has long been close to the incumbent.
Another hidden candidate?
However, a fraction of this party, favorable to the star boxer and potential candidate Manny Pacquiao, denounced in this Bong Go-Duterte ticket a “smoke screen”, which would aim to reveal only at the last minute their real candidate: Sara , the daughter of Rodrigo Duterte, who belongs to another party.
1Sambayan, a broad coalition of opposition figures, denounced Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement, believing that it made a mockery of the constitution. “Obviously, it’s motivated by the fear of being accountable both to the ICC and to our own justice system,” the group criticized on Facebook.
If poll favorite Sara Duterte-Carpio or Bong Go win, they could help protect the president from criminal prosecution, observers say.
In part of the statement cut before its broadcast, Mr. Duterte specified that he and Bon Go would withdraw from the race if his daughter appeared, explained to AFP Harry Roque, spokesperson for the presidency.
Sara Duterte-Carpio confirmed on Facebook that she was recently informed of the candidacy of her father, who would have asked her to support the project or to accept Bong Go as vice-president. “It was not a pleasant time,” she said in a statement.
“I respectfully advised them to stop talking about me and make me the reason they are running or not.” In the Philippines, the president and vice-president are elected separately, the second replacing the first in the event of incapacity or resignation.
