President Rodrigo Duterte's remark that he could run for vice president for a chance at immunity from lawsuits could "provoke jurisprudence" or set a precedent in law, his spokesperson said Monday.
Duterte again floated a possible candidacy for vice president over the weekend, saying he could use it to evade lawsuits being threatened against him. While the President is immune from suit, the same privilege however is not extended to the vice president.
"Let's just say perhaps, this is an opportunity to provoke jurisprudence," Duterte's spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing.
Duterte's Justice Sec. Menardo Guevarra in the past had said that the vice president is not immune from lawsuits. The same remark was made by Leila de Lima during her term as justice chief.
Philippine vice presidents have faced lawsuits while in office. Take incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo and her immediate predecessor Jejomar Binay.
Robredo in 2020 was cleared of charges of conspiracy to commit sedition, which were filed by the Philippine National Police in 2019 over narco list videos. Binay, during his term as vice president, faced plunder complaints over projects during his term as Makati City mayor.
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