Veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal. (File photo from Otso Diretso)
MANILA, Philippines — Veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal scoffed on Saturday at the suggestion of a term-sharing arrangement between former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio if they should win as president and vice president in the 2022 elections.
“Oh, what a political mess and betrayal of public trust if there would be such an agreement among the top leaders of our country. Having betrayed public trust, it could even be a ground for impeachment,” he said in a statement.
Earlier, Quezon Gov. Danilo Suarez, who is the Lakas-CMD co-chairman, said that term-sharing could be an option as the two were running under different parties — Marcos Jr. under Partido Federal ng Pilipinas nd Duterte-Carpio under Lakas-CMD.
In reaction, Macalintal said: “It should not, in the first place, be considered or thought of by any leader who has a sincere intention to lead our people. If a local elective official cannot even complete his projects in the city or municipality within their three-year term, how much more of a president if he will only serve for three years?”
“Our old charter provided for a four-year term of a president and vice-president which was found to be too short for a good president. Precisely, their term was amended to sux years because of the vast functions and duties they are expected to do for the country,” he continued.
Macalintal said the term sharing would lead to a complete revamp of the Cabinet for the incoming president after three years. Then, once the vice president takes over the presidency, a new vice president would have to be appointed for a replacement.
RELATED STORY
Sara Duterte, Bongbong Marcos talking about ‘working together’ in 2022