HINDI labag sa Konstitusyon ang napipintong pagtakbo ni Pangulong Duterte sa pagka-vice president sa 2022 elections, ani chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo.
Giit ni Panelo, walang probisyon sa Saligang Batas na nagbabawal sa dating pangulo ng Pilipinas na tumakbo bilang bise presidente.
“As there is no textual prohibition for PRRD to run for any elective office save for the presidency, there is no legal justification to bar him to run for vice president,” ani Panelo.
“Had the framers of the Constitution intended to prevent a president from seeking any other public office, they would have said so by way of a constitutional provision. What the Constitution does not prohibit it allows,” dagdag niya.
Itinanggi rin Panelo na gusto lamang manatili sa puwesto ni Duterte kaya gusto nitong maging ikalawang pangulo.
“The only impetus of the man (Duterte) is his obedience to the constitutional command to serve and protect the people,” paliwanag ng opisyal.
Wala rin umanong plano si Duterte na kontrolin ang tanggapan ng Pangulo kapag nanalo itong bise presidente.
“He only seeks to serve the people in such capacity that they wish him to serve in,” paliwanag pa ni Panelo.