MANILA, Philippines — “See you on election day.”
This was presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s response to the opposition’s claim that Filipinos will reject a Duterte-Duterte tandem in the 2022 national elections.
“See you on election day. Taumbayan ang magdedesisyon diyan,” Roque said in a press briefing when sought to comment on opposition coalition 1Sambayan’s remark that the “Davao formula” will not work at the national level.
(See you on election day. It’s the people who will decide on that.)
“At saka nakapagtataka naman, ang akala ng opposition, sila ang tagapagsalita ng taumbayan. Eh kung titingnan mo ang mga surveys, wala pa pong limang porsyento ang hindi sumusuporta sa ating Presidente. Bagamat sinasabi na kayo ang boses ng taumbayan, baka boses lang kayo ng isang barangay,” he added.
(And it makes me wonder how the opposition thinks they speak for the nation. If you look at surveys, those who don’t support the President are not even five percent. Although you might think you are the voice of the people, you might just be the voice of one village.)
Roque also disputed former senator Antonio Trillanes IV over his statement that any member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s family should run for office in 2022 so Filipinos can reject them in the elections.
“Doon po sa sinabi ni Senator Trillanes, I’m afraid he cannot claim to be the spokesperson of the people of this country,” Roque said.
(On what Senator Trillanes said, I’m afraid he cannot claim to be the spokesperson of the people of this country.)
“Malalaman lang po natin ang desisyon ng taumbayan pagkatapos po ng eleksyon. Kaya nga po, magkaroon tayo dapat ng eleksyon.”
(We will only know the public’s decision after the election. That’s why we must have an election.)
Roque has said Duterte will still think about possibly running for vice president in 2022 following the push from his party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.
Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said he thinks the presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will run for the highest post in the country.
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