Then Duterte resignation will “never happen,” VP lawyer counters
(Eagle News) — If former Senator Bongbong Marcos wins his electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo, President Rodrigo Duterte might step down, the Palace said on Thursday, Aug. 16.
According to Roque, Duterte “has said that he thinks Senator Bongbong is one of the better qualified leader(s) to succeed him..”
Duterte, who said he was “tired” in a previous speech, also vouched for Senator Chiz Escudero, who, like Marcos, lost to Robredo in the 2016 elections.
Duterte did not, however, cite his vice presidential running-mate, now-Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano.
“..And if there’s development and (Marcos) will win the protest and he becomes vice president, yes he will make true his word..That’s a conclusion that you can make because he says he’s willing to step down except that he does not think the constitutional successor is qualified,” Roque said, referring to Robredo, whom Duterte already called “incompetent” in a previous speech.
But according to Romulo Macalintal, Robredo’s lawyer, “President Duterte’s resignation will never happen..”
He said this was “because Mr. Marcos will never win his electoral protest.”
So far, a manual recount of ballots covering Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental is ongoing in connection with Marcos’ protest filed before the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
