It’s ‘work as usual’ for PRRD despite VP bid

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte continues to fulfill his mandate as the country’s chief executive, despite his plan to join the 2022 vice presidential race, Malacañang said on Thursday.

In an online press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque assured the public that Duterte is busy performing his duties amid the election season.

“Tuluy-tuloy naman po ang trabaho. Work as usual po (Work continues [for Duterte]. It is work as usual),” Roque said.

Roque said Duterte would even address the public on Thursday night through his regular “Talk to the People” to update them about the government’s relentless efforts to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

His statement came a day before the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC) for the May 9, 2022 national and local elections set to start Oct. 1 to 8 this year.

Quizzed as to when would Duterte file his COC for vice president, Roque reiterated that the public should wait for developments until Oct. 8, which is the last day of filing of COC.

“Hindi ko po alam kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng Presidente at hintayin po natin ang October 8 (I don’t know what would be the President’s decision. Let’s just wait on October 8),” Roque said.

Cabinet execs yet to resign

Meantime, Roque said Duterte has not received any resignation letter from Cabinet officials who might join the next year’s elections.

Roque added there is no need for Cabinet secretaries to vacate their respective posts, since they will be considered resigned once they file their COCs.

“Wala pa po akong nababalitaang nag-resign. Ang paghain naman po ng (I have not heard of any Cabinet official resigning from post. The filing of) certificate of candidacy will have the effect of resignation. So, hindi na po kinakailangang mag-resign kapag naghain ng (there is no need to resign when you file a) certificate of candidacy),” he said.

Under the Commission on Elections’ guidelines, an appointive official who files a COC will be deemed resigned from his post.

Roque, nevertheless, ensured that there will be no “leadership vacuum” in departments led by Cabinet secretaries who will run for elective posts in the May 9, 2022 elections.

He said Duterte will assign officers-in-charge (OICs) to lead the agencies and departments.

“Palagi po iyang merong OIC. Kaya po meron tayong palaging Usec at mga Asec sa iba’t ibang mga department (There will always be an OIC. That’s why we have undersecretaries and assistant secretaries in every department),” Roque said.

Roque, who is also open to running for senator, also refused to confirm his definite political plans for 2022.

“Hintayin na lang po natin ang Oktubre 8 (Let’s just wait for October 8),” he said, when asked about his potential senatorial bid.

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), during its national convention held on Sept. 8, proclaimed Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, and Transport Secretary as among its official senatorial candidates.

The PDP-Laban also announced that Roque, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, and Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chairperson Greco Belgica are the party’s guest senatorial candidates.