Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 23) — Former President Rodrigo Duterte is not prohibited by any law should he plan to resume his political career, former PDP-Laban leader Johnny Pimentel said Wednesday.
\”Under our Constitution, one term is applicable only to the president. In this case, he’ll (Duterte) be running as vice president, there is no prohibition,\” Pimentel told CNN Philippines’ Politics As Usual.
\”We are in a democracy. Therefore, every citizen, everyone is entitled to file that certificate of candidacy as long as they are qualified,\” the Surigao del Sur lawmaker added.
The 1987 Constitution states that the president is elected by direct vote by the people for a term of six years. He is not eligible for reelection and may only hold office for one term.
Edna Co, former dean of the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, echoed Pimentel’s position, saying it is not unprecedented for a former president to return to politics.
\”Pwede naman yun [It can be done]. We have not had that except in the case of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. She ran for Congress after her term as president. That’s a possibility, we cannot count that out. It’s the choice of the former president,\” Co said.
While it is Duterte’s characteristic to be unpredictable, Co and Pimentel said anything can happen when it comes to the former president.
\”If we notice, maraming sinasabi [he says a lot of things] which is why he can change his mind and this can change,\” Co noted.
\”Only time can tell if he’s serious [about] running for vice president,\” Pimentel said.
In a TV interview Monday evening, Duterte said he would return to politics if his daughter, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, is impeached over the ₱125-million confidential fund controversy, which she allegedly spent in just 11 days.
READ: Marcos: VP Duterte does not deserve impeachment
\”Alam mo, ‘pag ginawa niyo iyan, babalik ako sa pulitika. Mapilitan ako, either I run for senator or I will run for vice president maski matanda na ako,\” he said.
