The Dutertes are well within their rights to run in the 2022 elections, presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo said, adding that her camp is unaffected by the whirlwind of election-related events that led to the father-and-daughter seeking national posts.
When she and running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan filed their candidaces in October, they already “expected” that at least one of the Dutertes will run in a national elective post.
“Kabahagi na siya sa expectation na siguradong may Duterteng magfa-file (It is part of the expectation that there will surely be a Duterte who will file) either for president or vice president. Dahil expected siya, hindi naman talaga maapektuhan ‘yung aming lakad (Because it is expected, it will not affect our campaign),” Robredo said on the sideline of an event in Nueva Ecija.
The Vice President added that the Dutertes have all the right to decide if they want to run in the 2022 elections.
“Sa amin tuloy lang kami. Tuloy lang kami, mas focus kami sa aming mga activities lalo itong pagpapasalamat sa ating mga supporters na hindi magpapaapekto sa galaw ng ibang kandidato (For us, we will just continue. We will continue, we will be more focus in our activities especially in thanking our supporters who will not get affected by what other candidates are doing),” she said.
On Monday, Nov. 15, President Duterte, through a representative, filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for senator, substituting a certain Mona Liza Visorde under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS).
READ: Duterte to run for senator in May 2022 polls
This is the same party under which Senator Bong Go is running as president after presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio filed her COC as vice president and was unilaterally endorsed by presidential aspirant and former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as his running mate.
Earlier, the older Duterte threatened to run as vice president, facing his own daughter, after apparently being miffed because of Duterte-Carpio’s decision to run as vice president when she leads presidential preference surveys over Marcos.
The President also said he won’t be endorsing anyone else but Go for president.