Duterte may step down if Marcos wins poll protest against Robredo
Malacañang said that President Duterte may make true his words to resign if former senator, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., wins his electoral protest against Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after Duterte said that he will only recommend that the constitutional succession to the presidency is followed if either Marcos or Senator Francis Escudero is the vice president.
In his Thursday press briefing, Roque said: “Well, what he (Duterte) actually said is a real statement of exasperation and a real genuine wish to step down if there’s a better leader, or if there’s a qualified leader to take over. And he has said that he thinks Senator Bongbong Marcos is one of the betterqualified leaders to succeed him.”
“If there’s (sic) developments and he (Marcos) will win the protest and he becomes Vice President, yes, he (Duterte) will make true his word,” he added.
Meanwhile, Roque qualified that the President has no plans to step down as of yet.
“Sa ngayon (As of now) he remains. So Barry Gutierrez, sorry po. He remains president,” he said, referring to Robredo’s spokesman who taunted Duterte in his recent remarks.
Roque also refused to comment when asked if the President made such statement because he knew something about the previous elections.
“I don't think so. I mean, I will not speculate. I guess he was just saying, parang (perhaps), there's so many other people who are better qualified,” he said.
Duterte this week expressed that he genuinely wants to step down now as president due to his frustrations that he may not be able to deliver on his promise to quell corruption in government.
However, Duterte said that he will not suggest Robredo to take over, claiming she cannot improve on anything, and that he prefers a military junta than have Robredo become president.
Leni’s answer
Is she the qualified person to succeed President Duterte? Vice President Robredo let her late husband do the talking.
Keeping her stance not to engage in a word war with the President, Robredo posted on her Facebook account a video clip of former Interior Secretary and Naga Mayor Jesse Robredo’s interview when he was still alive.
The Vice President said she received so many messages asking her to react or defend herself after Duterte took another swipe at her leadership ability.
“Since we’re commemorating his (Jesse’s) 6th death anniversary on Saturday, [we] will let him do the talking. Ganyan din naman sagot ko (That’s also be my answer),” she wrote in her caption.
In the video clip, Jesse Robredo talked about integrity and honesty in leadership. In part, it was said: “Ang dulo ng lahat ng bagay, ‘yong totoo ‘yong mananaig. Number two, ang dulo ng lahat ng bagay, ‘yong matino ‘yong nananalo (In the end, the truth will prevail. Number two, in the end, it is the good one that wins).” (With a report from Raymund F. Antonio)