Duterte ‘equilibrium’ remark on VP run baffles Lacson

President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Panfilo Lacson (INQUIRER.net file photos)

MANILA, Philippines— Senator Panfilo Lacson was puzzled by President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark that he could be considered as a possible vice presidential candidate in 2022 “to maintain equilibrium.”

“Hindi ko maintidinhan yun (I don’t understand that),” Lacson said when the issue was asked in an interview over Teleradyo’s “On the Spot” show on Friday.

“How can a sitting president maintain the equilibrium by running for vice president?”

The senator then threw back the question to the anchors of the show.

“Kindly explain. Ano bang ibig sabihin nun? Hindi ko maintindihan e,” Lacson said.

(Kindly explain. what does it mean? I really don’t understand)

Duterte’s own political group, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), has been pushing him to vie for the second-highest post in the land when his term ends next year.

On Thursday, the President declared he could be considered for vice president in the coming elections to “maintain the equilibrium.”

“Maybe at this time, you can say that maybe para to maintain the equilibrium sa lahat, consider me a candidate for the vice presidency at this time,” he went on.

(Maybe at this time, to maintain equilibrium for all, consider me a candidate for the vice presidency at this time.)

It was not the first time Duterte expressed openness to run for vice president.

/MUF