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Presidential bets weigh in on Duterte, Sara both running in Eleksyon 2022
By LLANESCA T. PANTI,GMA NewsBoth President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, are running for office in Eleksyon 2022: the President for a seat in the Senate, the Mayor for vice president.
The situation evolved in the last two days to file a substitution candidacy at the Commission on Elections, with Mayor Duterte filing her vice presidential certificate of candidacy on Saturday and her father filing his COC for senator on Monday, the last day.
Asked about this development, Vice President Leni Robredo said both Dutertes have the right to run for national posts in the 2022 polls, and that their actions will not distract her camp from working toward its goal.
"Sa akin kasi, expected...expected na siguradong may Duterteng magfa-file either for president or vice president. Pero iyong sa amin lang, dahil expected siya, hindi naman talagang maaapektuhan iyong aming lakad. Karapatan naman nila [We expected it a Duterte will run for president or vice president. So because it is expected, it does not affect us in any way. It is their right [to seek public office]," Robredo said after a visit to calamansi farmers in Nueva Ecija.
"Karapatan nila mag-desisyon para sa kanila. Sa amin, tuloy lang kami. Tuloy lang kami. Mas focused kami sa aming mga activities lalo itong pagpapasalamat sa ating mga supporters, na hindi magpapaapekto sa galaw ng ibang mga kandidato [It is their right to decide for themselves. As for us, we soldier on. We are focused on our activities, thanking our supporters, and we won't let ourselves get caught up with what is happening with our opponents]," she added.
Meanwhile, Senator Manny Pacquiao, who is also seeking the presidency, said he respects the Duterte family's political plans, adding that he will let the public choose the next Philippine president.
"Di naman po yan bawal sa ilalim ng ating Saligang Batas. Wala rin po ako sa posisyon para husgahan ang kanilang dahilan sa pagtakbo," said Pacquiao, in a statement to reporters.
(It isn't illegal in the Constitution. I am also not in the position to criticize their decision to run.)
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"In the end, ang taumbayan pa rin po ang magdedesisyon kung sino ang kanilang ihahalal sa susunod na eleksyon," he added.
(In the end, it is up to the people to decide on who to vote for in the elections.)
In a separate statement on Tuesday, Pacquiao also said, "I am not in a position para husgahan ang Pangulong Duterte pagdating sa kanyang desisyon sa pagtakbo [to judge President Duterte on his decision to run]. The Senate has and will always be a congregation of 24 independent minds and I don't see any reason why it would cease to become one for any reason."
The Duterte chaired PDP-Laban initially installed Duterte as its vice presidential bet for the 2022 polls, but Duterte later said that after negative public opinion on the idea he would instead retire from politics.
President Duterte's longtime aide Senator Bong Go, meanwhile, earlier filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president under PDP-Laban, only to withdraw it and file a COC for president under PDDS last Saturday. — with Consuelo Marquez/BM, GMA News