Malacañang hit back at the opposition coalition for dismissing a possible vice presidential bid of President Duterte as a bad joke.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the opposition might end up looking foolish if the President decides to run for public office next year.
"Wala pa naman pong desisyon ang Presidente. Ang masasabi ko lang, baka the joke maybe on them (The President has no decision yet. All I can say is the joke is maybe on them)," he said during a televised press briefing Tuesday, June 1.
1Sambayan, a newly formed opposition group, earlier dismissed the potential vice presidential run of Duterte as a "joke of the worst kind." Lawyer Howard Calleja of 1Sambayan said Duterte's alleged run "makes a mockery of the constitution. "It is laughable and the height of impertinence to the Filipino people,” he said.
Roque said the President was still pondering on whether or not he will run for vice president in the 2022 national elections. Duterte opted to think it over after the ruling PDP-Laban party passed a resolution urging him to seek the second-highest post in the land in next year's polls.
Duterte's six year-term will end next year. He is not eligible for reelection but is not barred from seeking other elective post.
The Palace earlier said the President may run for vice president if this will be the Lord's will. "A message from God because he has left it to God,” Roque told reporters Monday, May 31, when asked what will make Duterte run for vice president in the 2022 elections.