Philippine election: Rodrigo Duterte for vice-president? ‘Good idea’, he says
- Duterte, who is barred by the constitution from seeking re-election, will end his six-year term in June 2022
- But his party is encouraging him to run for office as vice-president – which he has called a ‘good idea’ as he has unfinished business, such as the war on drugs
Duterte, who is barred by the constitution from seeking re-election, will end his six-year term in June 2022, but his party is encouraging him to run again for office, as vice-president.
“There are a lot of people pushing me to run for vice president. It is a good idea, particularly if we talk about the drug problem,” Duterte said in a speech. “I am scared for the next generation”.
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“We don’t need foreigners to investigate the killings in the drug war because the systems in the Philippines are working,” he said, citing the conviction of police officers involved in the killing of 17-year-old boy in 2017.
The ICC’s Rome Statute, however, gives it jurisdiction with crimes committed while a country was a member.
Human rights advocates welcomed the ICC’s probe, saying it was “a long awaited step towards justice and accountability”.
“It is yet another damning indictment of the Duterte government’s murderous policies that have killed – and continue to kill – thousands of Filipinos with impunity,” Manila-based human rights group Karapatan said in a statement.
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Rumours have swirled that Duterte might try to stay in power by endorsing a presidential bid by his top aide and incumbent senator, Christopher “Bong” Go, while contesting the separate vice-presidential election.
Opinion polls show Duterte remains hugely popular in the Philippines, despite the huge drugs war death toll.
But Duterte on Wednesday said he had made a promise to an ally, congressman Martin Romualdez, the nephew of former first lady Imelda Marcos, that he would support him should he decide to run for vice-president.
“If Romualdez runs, I am out. If he doesn’t, I am out, maybe,” Duterte said.
Additional reporting by dpa