Kiko: We cannot afford another six years of Duterte presidency
The Philippines cannot another six years of administration under a Duterte, opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan said on Monday, July 26.
Pangilinan issued the statement as he disagreed with House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and other administration allies that President Duterte's six-year term is not enough to fulfill all of his programs, welcoming the Chief Executive's possible bid for vice presidency in 2022.
"The next six years will be critical. This 2022 will determine probably, the next 20 years. And my position is, we cannot afford another six years under this administration," Pangilinan said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).
"We cannot afford another six years of daily killings. We cannot afford another six years of strongman, iron-fist policies. And of course, we cannot afford another six years of subservience to China," the staunch Duterte critic added.
He continued: "Do we want this for the next six years?"
President Duterte has expressed interest to run for vice president next year. His party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) has passed resolution urging him to seek the post, while allowing him to pick his running mate.
Meanwhile, the President's daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, is being pushed to run for president, with Velasco even vowing to support the mayor's possible presidential bid.
"I definitely would support a Duterte-Duterte tandem," the House speaker said in a separate interview by ANC.
For Pangilinan, however, the Duterte administration's "iron-fist" approach to problems confronting the country has not been effective, citing its war on illegal drugs, as well as the COVID-19 response.
Still, the opposition lawmaker said he leaves it up to Filipino voters to decide.
"Do you expect real change for the next years kung Duterte-Duterte ang mangyayari (if a Duterte-Duterte leadership will happen)?" he stressed.
"Kung gusto nilang more of the same, kung gusto nila ganito ang palakad, eh 'di iboto nila at ikampanya nila ang Duterte-Duterte. Kung ayaw nila ng ganoon, eh 'di magkaroon tayo ng pagkakaisa tungo sa bagong direksyon sa ating bansa (If people wanted more of the same, this kind of leadership, then they should vote and campaign for Duterte-Duterte. If they don't, then we should unite towards a new direction for the country)," he said.
Pangilinan reiterated his appeal to eligible Filipinos to register and vote in the 2022 elections.