It is the hope of a Catholic prelate that Filipinos will be much wiser in the May 2022 polls and not make the same mistake of again voting for President Duterte.
"I hope our people will now be wise enough to turn down Duterte," retired Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani said in an interview.
He said this following the announcement that Duterte will run for vice president in next year's polls.
Before President Duterte delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, Bacani lamented how the present administration has been marked by "killings, lies and obsceneties and neglect of the interests of our country."
He also urged the President to speak truthfully and express regret "for his failings in governance and personal example."
Earlier, retired Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said Duterte's decision to run for vice president in the May 2022 polls is for self-protection as he is afraid of being prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
"Perhaps his motive of running for VP is self-protection! He is afraid of being prosecuted by the ICC for his crimes: murder of thousands of so-called drug addicts!" he said.
"The long arm of Lady Justice will someday catch him even if he becomes VP, which for me will not happen anyway!" added Bastes.
The ICC earlier called for a full investigation into the alleged crimes against humanity committed in President Duterte’s crackdown against illegal drugs.