Palace: Duterte’s right to run can’t be limited, pandemic remains his priority

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s right to run for public office should not be restricted despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic he has to manage, Malacañang said Thursday, adding that the health crisis remains the Chief Executive’s priority nevertheless.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque pointed out that running for public office is a right of every Filipino.

In a press briefing, Roque was asked how Duterte could improve the country’s COVID-19 situation while also preparing for his possible vice presidential bid next year.

The Palace official responded: “Hindi naman po natin puwede limitahan ang karapatan ng Presidente na tumakbo. ‘Yan po ay karapatan ng lahat ng Pilipino.”

(We cannot limit the right of the President to run. That’s the right of every Filipino.)

“Pero sa tingin ko po, sa mula’t-mula, number one priority ng Presidente itong COVID,” he added.

(But I think, from the start, the President’s number one priority is the COVID-19 pandemic.)

Roque even boasted about the Philippines’ managing the pandemic “fairly well” despite having limited resources like the COVID-19 vaccines.

“At kaya nga po, kahit papano, kahit konti ang ating resources kung ikukumpara sa iba, kahit sinosolo ng mayayamang bansa ang mga bakuna, eh umuubra naman po tayo. Namamanage naman po natin fairly well ang ating COVID response,” he said.

(Even if we have fewer resources than others, even if the rich countries are hoarding the vaccines, our response is working against the pandemic. We are managing fairly well in our COVID response.)

“Tingin ko po kahit anong maging plano ng Presidente, pangunahing attention pa rin niya ang pandemya,” he went on.

(I think whatever the President’s plans may be, his primary attention is still the pandemic.)

The President has agreed to be the vice-presidential candidate of the ruling party PDP-Laban in next year’s elections.

KGA