MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday distanced itself from a Palace official’s support for a Duterte-Duterte tandem in the 2022 national elections.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace respects Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo’s opinion that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is the best person to take on the presidency while her father President Rodrigo Duterte would run for vice president in the 2022 polls.
“That’s the personal opinion of Secretary Panelo and we respect his opinion,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing.
In his televised talk show “Counterpoint” on Monday, Panelo said the next President should be able to continue the accomplishments made during the Duterte administration.
“Sa totoo lang (To be honest), there is no one in the political horizon whether in this administration nor in the position nor in the left na tao o dalawang tao na maaring mag-lead dito sa darating na 2022 sa pamamahala upang sundan yung mga apak ni Presidente Duterte maliban kay Mayor Sara Duterte at saka ang kaniyang ama rin bilang bise president (who can lead in 2022 that can follow the steps of the President besides Mayor Sara Duterte and her father as Vice President),” he said.
Panelo acknowledged that the President himself has repeatedly expressed his desire to retire from politics after his six-year term but noted that destiny may have other plans.
“You know when the gods of destiny rule that you are anointed as the next president of the land, wala kang magagawa dahil (there’s nothing you can do because) there will be people’s clamor,” he added.
Last September, Panelo also expressed his desire for the older Duterte to run for vice president if his daughter would run for presidency.
He recalled that the same situation happened in Davao City when Duterte and his daughter would run for mayor and vice mayor.
Duterte served as the vice mayor of Davao City when his daughter was the mayor from 2010 to 2013.
He has repeatedly mentioned his intent on stepping down after his term since he is not aspiring to become “a politician forever.”
If given the choice, Duterte said he wanted to resign because he was frustrated by massive corruption within the government.
However, he vowed to spend the remaining two years of his term fighting corruption.