Outgoing Philippine president may swap offices to stay in power

MANILA, Philippines — Rodrigo Duterte has dominated politics in the Philippines since becoming president five years ago, with an anti-drug crusade blamed for thousands of extrajudicial killings and a pressure campaign against opposition leaders and the news media. Now, with mere months left in his six-year term, his opponents fear he is laying the groundwork to stay in power for years to come.

Duterte announced this week that he intended to run for the vice presidency in the elections next May. Critics say it is a blatant attempt by Duterte, 76, to save himself from his “political sins” as he confronts possible prosecution by the International Criminal Court. An ICC report last year said there was sufficient evidence to show that crimes against humanity had been committed in Duterte’s bloody drug war, which has left thousands dead.

Political and defense analyst Chester Cabalza, founder of the Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation, a research institute, said Duterte’s decision was clearly meant to save him from prosecution.

There is no legal reason why Duterte cannot be prosecuted as president, but he has made it clear that he would defy any summons by the international court. A vice president would have less power to do so, but Duterte hopes to run in tandem with Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go as the presidential candidate.

If both men win, political experts say, Go can either resign to allow Duterte to step in as leader or let Duterte rule the country by proxy, ensuring he escapes prosecution.