Malacañang offered no assurance to those who doubted President Duterte’s retirement.
On Monday, Malacañang offered no assurance to those who doubted President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement that he will retire from politics when his term ended on June 30, 2022.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the response to a question whether President Duterte meant his words this time, given that the President also said last 2015 that he will retire from politics and will not run for president, both of which didn’t happen.
“Wala na po akong assurance na maibibigay doon sa talagang gustong magduda. Kung talagang may nagdududa antayin natin ang October 8. Kung mayroon pang nagduda antayin natin ang November 15 dahil hanggang dun ang substitution,” Roque said.
October 8 was the deadline for filing the certificate of candidacy (COC).
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Back in 2015, then-Davao City Mayor Duterte substituted Martin Diño as the standard-bearer of PDP-Laban for the 2016 presidential race.
Last February 2016, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division ruled that Duterte validly substituted Diño as the standard-bearer of PDP-Laban since Diño “erroneous(ly) wrote” mayor of Pasay City in his declaration of candidacy but filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) for president.
Over the weekend, the President announced that he’s retiring from politics as he accompanied his long-time ally, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president in the 2022 elections.
President Duterte was originally endorsed by the Cusi-led PDP-Laban party to run as vice president, and Senator Go as its presidential candidate.
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