Majority in Philippines agree Rodrigo Duterte’s vice-president bid violates constitution: survey

A poll found only 39 per cent agreed the president should run for office when his term expires next year, while 60 per cent disagreed

The Social Weather Stations survey found three-quarters of Filipinos were satisfied with Duterte’s performance in June but his ratings had dropped

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will leave office next year as a president can only serve for a single term of six years and cannot seek re-election. Photo: AP

Published: 8:00am, 28 Sep 2021

More than half of citizens in the Philippines believe that President Rodrigo Duterte would be violating the constitution if he runs for vice-president in elections next year, according to a survey published on Monday.

Only 39 per cent agree that Duterte should run for the office, according to the poll conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) research institute between June 23-26. One per cent did not give an answer.

The survey found that 60 per cent of respondents nationwide agreed that Duterte’s run for the vice-presidency “violates the intention of the constitution, which should first be amended before he may run for office again”.

Under the country’s constitution, a president can only serve for a single term of six years and cannot seek re-election.

Analysts warn that if Duterte successfully runs for vice-president in the May 2022 elections, he could again become president should his successor become incapable of leading the country.

Those who agree with Duterte’s vice-presidential bid said he should run because they “like his management of the government to continue”.