Lacson: Duterte-Duterte in 2022 ‘a bit too much’

Filipinos may find a Duterte-Duterte ticket in 2022 to be “a bit too much,” relegating the Philippines to a mere barangay of Davao City, where the President’s family has reigned for decades, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said on Friday.

He said the prospect of President Duterte running for vice president with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, as the standard-bearer, would not look good politically.

“The Philippines is not Davao City. If they can do that in Davao City, I don’t think the Filipinos are ready for a Davao City-like political situation or arrangement,” Lacson said in a television interview.

In a bid to gather momentum months ahead of the period for the filing of candidacy, political players have floated the idea of Mr. Duterte seeking the country’s No. 2 post and either teaming up with his daughter or Sen. Christopher Go, his former aide.

The President’s party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, circulated a draft resolution endorsing such a possible run, but the party’s leader, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, also rumored to be interested in higher office, disavowed it.

In a video statement released on Friday, Pacquiao neither confirmed nor denied he was planning a presidential run.

“I think it’s a bit too much,” said Lacson, whose own name had appeared on the list of prospective presidential candidates.

“This is not to take anything away from Senator Go, Sara Duterte or President Duterte. I don’t think Filipinos are ready to, you know, see a Davao City-like political situation in the whole country,” Lacson said.

Malacañang on Friday denied that the administration was behind the push for a “Duterte-Duterte” tandem in the 2022 elections.

If ever government officials have broached this idea, it would just be their personal opinion, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said at a press briefing.

“The President’s directive is for us to focus on the pandemic and set aside politics for later,” Roque said.

The President’s chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, earlier suggested the possibility of a Duterte-Duterte tandem, with Mayor Sara Duterte running for president and Mr. Duterte seeking the vice presidency.