What If... Bongbong and Sara 'Term-Share' as President? Lakas Floats Idea
Former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio can run as president and vice president under Lakas-CMD party and "term-share" as chief executive, a senior party official said Thursday.
Lakas Co-Chairman Danilo Suarez said he was sharing his "personal opinion" after the only son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos said that he would still run for president, even with the prospect of President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter running to succeed him.
"Puwedeng mag-term share sila. One will lead for three years, give way to the vice president. So igi-give up na n'ya, wala na siya after three years," Suarez told TeleRadyo.
"Personal opinion ko na kung talagang nahihirapan ang partido kung sino talaga ang kukunin, that's possible. I mean in other countries that's being done," he said.
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According to the 1987 Constitution, a vice president can assume the position of the president in the event that the office becomes vacant.
"In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the President, the Vice-President shall become the President to serve the unexpired term," read Article VII, Section 8.
Duterte-Carpio on Thursday was sworn in as a member of Lakas-CMD, led by former President Gloria Arroyo, opening ther possibility of substituting the party's nominee for president, a relative unknown.
The Davao City mayor has not revealed her next move since dropping her reelection bid last Tuesday. Her youngest brother, Vice Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, will run in her stead.
Marcos' cousin, Lakas-CMD president and Leyte 1st District Rep Martin Romualdez said Bongbong was welcome to join their party.
"Nag-invite din kami kay Senator Bongbong sumali rin sa Lakas. But as we know nandiyan na po siya sa Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, pero siyempre din, welcome din siya sa ating Lakas-CMD po," he told TeleRadyo in a separate interview.
If Marcos Jr. joins Lakas, who will be the presidential candidate and who will slide down for VP? Suarez told TeleRadyo, referring to Arroyo, "mas malapit si GMA kay Mayor Sara."