President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said on Monday (June 28) he is open to run as vice president in the 2022 national elections.
In his public address, he explained that he has several programs he wishes to continue as the vice president. However, it still depends on who he will support as the president.
“Mayroon ako ditong dinagdag, running for vice president, ako. Ah sabihin ko, it’s not at all a bad idea. And if there’s a space for me there, siguro. Pero kung wala akong space, everybody’s lining up wanting to be one, Vice President, sila na lang muna kasi tapos na ako,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Duterte slammed Senator Manny Pacquiao for saying that the Duterte administration is “two times corrupt” than other administrations. He challenged Pacquiao to identify the corrupt officials under him.
“Kasi kung mag-Vice President ako, kalaban ko kontra partido, kagaya ni Pacquiao, salita nang salita na [two times] daw tayo mas corrupt, so I am challenging him, ituro mo ang opisinang corrupt, at ako na bahala, within one week may gawin ako,” he challenged.
“Mag-lista ka, Pacquiao, at sinasabi mong two times kaming corrupt, ilista mo ‘yong mga tao at opisina at dapat nilista mo na ‘yon at ibigay mo sa akin. ‘Di ba ang sabi ko noon, if you come to know that there is a corruption, let me know. Ganoon ang dapat ginawa mo. Wala ka naman sinabi noong all these years, puro ka praises nang praises sa akin tapos ngayon sabihin mo corrupt,” he continued.
In relation to this, the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) assured that the President has a quick response when it comes to corruption. PACC Chairperson Greco Belgica disclosed that 95% of the reports they receive are about corrupt local government officials while 5% are from the national government.
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that there is still no final decision on Duterte’s run for the vice presidential position.
Report from Mela Lesmoras, Eunice Samonte/NGS-rir
