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With the 2022 presidential elections coming in close, Filipinos are hopeful for good leaders to guide the country. In a Pulse Asia survey conducted on 2,400 respondents from June 7 to 16, the Duterte-Duterte tandem (Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and President Rodrigo Duterte) leads with 28% and 18% of presidential and vice-presidential bets respectively, signifying that Filipinos still trust in Duterte’s governance despite much flak from critics.
However, Duterte-Carpio has mentioned in a press briefing that she is “not interested” in running with her father as a tandem. Instead, she as the chairperson of the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) will support her father as vice president along with the presidential candidate that he endorses. Duterte-Carpio has also said that she may not run for president should her father seek the vice presidency.
President Duterte, meanwhile, has repeatedly said that he is against the idea of his daughter running for president but is “sold” on running for vice president to “maintain equilibrium” on the basis that his future successor should be a “friend” he can work with.
Yet what does this mean to have our outgoing President run for vice president and win?
Simply put, this is a circumvention of the Constitution with its ban on political dynasties and provisions on term limits. It is a mockery of the Filipino people.
Although the Duterte-Duterte tandem has denied all accusations of political dynasties – using the reason that Filipinos can still practice the “split-ticket” voting strategy – there is still a blatant but subtle motive of Duterte’s constant need for power behind their statements.
Political scientists suggest that Duterte may run solely for the position of vice president to give his longtime partner, Senator Bong Go, a fighting chance for presidency. While Go denies these speculations, he says “my mind might change if President Duterte runs for vice president.”
This does not present to us a real electoral system but of one with underlying motivations and personal interests.
A real electoral system presents real competition; it was never before seen that a vice president gets to choose a running mate. Additionally, with Duterte’s powers and resources as Chief Executive, he may also help their tandem to win. This shows that the President is the one calling the shots.
Furthermore, in the instance of the elected president vacating or stepping down for any reason, Duterte as vice president would have to assume the top post legally – twice.
Even though there are no strict legal impediments to Duterte running as vice president as his term expires in 2022, the problem lies in the continuity of Duterte’s leadership and the perpetuation of power to one family.
If the Duterte-Duterte tandem does succeed, Duterte will still be able to wield presidential powers at will through his daughter despite his limited capabilities as vice president (as can be seen through Leni Robredo), raising the possibilities of a shadow government.
This also disrespects the sole “spirit” of the Constitution with its prevention of political dynasties since the Marcos regime. This only shows where we truly are in terms of our quality of Philippine democracy.
An unwelcome development or a dynamic one? We can only wait for what this brings to our country come the 2022 elections.
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