MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Saturday, October 2, that he will not run for vice president in the 2022 national elections and will retire from politics after his term.
“I’d like to address myself to the entire nation. The universal sentiment of the Filipino has been reflected in the different surveys and in many forums and, well, caucuses and meetings to discuss what I should do in my life. The overwhelming sentiment of the Filipinos is that I am not qualified, and it would be a violation of the constitution to circumvent the law, the spirit of the Constitution,” the president said.
“And so in obedience to the will of the people, who after all placed me in the presidency many years ago, I now say sa mga kababayan ko na sundin ko ang gusto ninyo. Today, I announce my retirement from politics,” he added.
Duterte made the surprise announcement after accompanying his former longtime aide, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, in filing certificate of candidacy for vice president at a Commission on Elections center.
"I would like to wish Senator Bong Go all the best and good luck in his quest for the vice presidency," Duterte said.
Under the Philippine constitution, presidents of the country are limited to a single six-year term and the opposition had said they will would question the legality of Duterte’s announced vice presidential run.
— The Summit Express
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| President Rodrigo Duterte. File photo from PCOO |
“I’d like to address myself to the entire nation. The universal sentiment of the Filipino has been reflected in the different surveys and in many forums and, well, caucuses and meetings to discuss what I should do in my life. The overwhelming sentiment of the Filipinos is that I am not qualified, and it would be a violation of the constitution to circumvent the law, the spirit of the Constitution,” the president said.
“And so in obedience to the will of the people, who after all placed me in the presidency many years ago, I now say sa mga kababayan ko na sundin ko ang gusto ninyo. Today, I announce my retirement from politics,” he added.
Duterte made the surprise announcement after accompanying his former longtime aide, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, in filing certificate of candidacy for vice president at a Commission on Elections center.
"I would like to wish Senator Bong Go all the best and good luck in his quest for the vice presidency," Duterte said.
Under the Philippine constitution, presidents of the country are limited to a single six-year term and the opposition had said they will would question the legality of Duterte’s announced vice presidential run.
— The Summit Express
