A veteran legislator on Thursday shot down the idea of a Duterte-Duterte tandem in 2022 elections, saying it will be a circumvention of the constitution, specifically the provision on term limits and ban on political dynasties.
“While there may be no strict legal impediments to a “Duterte-Duterte” tandem (Sara Duterte for President and Rodrigo Duterte for Vice-President) in the 2022 elections, this perilous combination would result to the circumvention of constitutional prohibitions and the perpetration of patent unethical indiscretions,” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said in a statement.
Lagman’s statement came in response to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo who floated the idea of a possible team-up of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and President Rodrigo Duterte in the coming 2022 Presidential elections.
Panelo, in a dinner-fellowship hosted by Mayor Cesar Quiambao and attended by prominent Pangasinan political leaders last January 23, said the Duterte-Duterte tandem had no legal impediment.
He said President Duterte could still run for vice president when his term expires in 2022. “The issue here is the continuity of the Duterte leadership,” Panelo said.
But Lagman, a lawyer, said the constitutional ban against an incumbent president running for reelection after the expiration of his single six-year term is designed to prohibit the perpetuation of presidential powers in one person.
“This prohibition will be conveniently circumvented considering the ascendancy of a father over his daughter so much so that effectively a Vice President Rodrigo Duterte can continue to wield presidential powers at will,” said Lagman.
Lagman added: “Moreover, in the event that the projected Sara Duterte presidency is vacated by choice, fortuitous event, or impeachment, a Vice President Rodrigo Duterte would succeed as President, thereby nullifying the constitutional prohibition.”
He also frowned on local politics in Davao that is dominated by the Dutertes or what he described as “familial hegemony.”
“The local politics in Davao City which has seen Sara Duterte as Mayor and Rodrigo Duterte as Vice Mayor should not be replicated nationwide,” he said.