‘Queer coincidence’? Duterte jokes two Dutertes to ‘sit’ president, VP for 11 days
FILE PHOTO: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte arrives with daughter and first lady Sara Duterte-Carpio to attend the enthronement ceremony of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo, Japan October 22, 2019. Carl Court/Pool via REUTERS
Update
MANILA, Philippines – Beginning June 19 until the end of the month, President Rodrigo Duterte said in jest that he and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, would have the distinction of “occupying” the two highest government posts in the country.
The President pointed out the “queer coincidence in (Philippine) history,” as his daughter is set to take her oath as Vice President on June 19.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the country’s new president and vice president should assume office by noon of June 30, at the same time their predecessors would have stepped down from their respective posts.
Duterte’s successor and Duterte-Carpio’s running mate, President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would be sworn into the presidency by June 30, the same day that the elder Duterte would step down.
‘Working together’
“So at that time, at that point in time sa history, ang Presidente ako pa. June 30 pa ‘yung isa eh. Pero may Vice President na nag-oath of office na,” he said in his speech at the groundbreaking of the Philippine Sports Training Center in Bataan.
(So, at that time, at that point in history, I will still be President because the incoming one will be sworn into office by June 30. But there is already a vice president who has already taken her oath of office.)
“So [for] about 11 days, ang Presidente ninyo Duterte, ang Vice President, Duterte,” the President added.
(So in about 11 days, your President will be a Duterte, and your Vice President will also be a Duterte.)
‘Biro lang (joke only)’
The President did not mention that the sitting vice president, Leni Robredo, still has until June 30 to finish her term.
During the event, Duterte then quipped that he and Sara should just continue their tandem.
“Kaya sabihin ko kay Inday, ituloy na lang natin ito,” he joked, eliciting laughs from the audience. “Hindi, biro lang.”
(So I will tell Inday Sara, let’s just continue this… No, I’m just joking.)
“It’s really a queer situation,” Duterte added.
Duterte-Carpio is scheduled to take her oath of office on June 19 in their hometown Davao City, where she and her father both served as mayor.
According to her spokesperson, the President is expected to attend her oath-taking.
The elder Duterte had supported his daughter’s run for the vice presidency in the 2022 elections, but had expressed dismay that she opted to vie for the second-highest post to make way for Marcos when she had been leading in all the surveys.
Duterte-Carpio won the 2022 presidential race after garnering more than 32 million votes.
Aside from being the vice president, Duterte-Carpio will also serve as education secretary under the Marcos administration.
