Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 7) — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque doesn’t believe 1Sambayan’s assertion that Filipinos will reject a Duterte-Duterte tandem in 2022, saying non-supporters only make up a fraction of the entire population.
“Nakapagtataka naman ‘no, bakit kaya ang akalain ay sila ang tagapagsalita ng taumbayan eh kung titignan mo ang mga surveys, wala pa pong 5% ang hindi sumusuporta sa ating Presidente,” Roque said in a media briefing on Monday.
“Bagamat sinasabi nating kayo ang boses ng taumbayan, baka boses lang kayo ng isang barangay,” he added.
[Translation: It’s puzzling why they would think they’re the people’s spokesperson when surveys show non-supporters of the President don’t make up even 5% of the respondents. While you’re saying you’re the voice of the people, you may be just the voice of one barangay.]
One of 1Sambayan’s convenors, Atty. Howard Calleja, earlier said the possible tandem of President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter Davao City mayor Sara, which he calls the “Davao formula,” will likely not work in the upcoming national elections.
Duterte has been urged by his political party to run for vice president while Sara is being eyed as a presidential bet.
Calleja said the opposition coalition believes the political pairing would not gain enough support from Filipinos, who would see it as “selfish” and “nothing but a way to perpetuate power to one family.”
Meanwhile, responding to statements that Duterte joining the vice-presidential race would violate the Constitution or just a move to circumvent it, Roque maintained there is no provision that explicitly prohibits such a move.
To date, the President and the Davao City mayor have not publicly commented on whether they have considered running for the top two posts in the government next year.
