Philippines’ Duterte enters last-minute Senate bid as daughter runs for vice president
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has contested an 11-hour Senate nomination in next year’s national elections, reversing his vow to quit politics just an hour before the deadline for parties to change candidates.
The decision was made a few days after Duterte’s daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio announced she was running for vice president in a national race dominated by two of the country’s top political clans.
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, ran for president, will most likely have tickets with Duterte-Carpio.
Candidates for the May 2022 vote have until October 8 to register but parties are allowed to withdraw their candidates and replace them with new ones until November 15, resulting in the last-minute rivalry between the two Dutertes and their rivals.
Next year’s election is seen as a referendum on the strength of Duterte’s brand as his six-year term comes to an end and the Philippines grapples with the economic downturn of the Covid-1 pandemic, which has hit the country. country in Southeast Asia. the second highest caseload after Indonesia.
Mr. Duterte’s bid for senators will mark the latest turning point for the 76-year-old populist leader, who, after pitching the idea of a vice-presidential run earlier this year, last month for know he was give up politics. Duterte’s camp revived the idea of running for vice president again over the weekend, raising the possibility that he could run for the same office against his daughter.
However, on Monday, his lawyer, Melchor Aranas, submitted the certificate of senatorial candidacy of Duterte from the same party as his close aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who is also running. compete for the presidency.
The International Criminal Court in The Hague this year opened an investigation into Duterte’s “war on drugs,” whose distinctive policies have killed thousands, and analysts say the president has may remain in office to avoid future prosecution.
Duterte is one of the Philippines’ most beloved presidents in recent history. But his support has dwindled in recent months. In a survey released last month, polling group Social Weather Stations found the president had 67 percent support among Filipinos, down 8 percentage points from 75 percent in June.
His daughter, the mayor of Davao City, the family’s political stronghold, is one of the Philippines’ most popular politicians, according to polls, and has been urged by supporters to run for president. before running for vice president. Saturday.
A joint ticket led by Marcos and Carpio-Duterte in second would have a very high chance of winning, say analysts, extending the Dutertes political stronghold to the south. the island of Mindanao and the Marcoses in northern Luzon.
Richard Heydarian, associate professor of politics at Polytechnic University of the Philippines. “This is just an incredible amount of potential customers for any candidate.”
Other candidates running for the top office include incumbent vice-president Leni Robredo, a favorite of the center-left opposition in the Philippines; boxer Manny Pacquiao; and Manila Mayor Francisco Moreno.
Additional reporting by Guill Ramos in Manila
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