By Kaela Patricia Gabriel

PHOTO: Presidential Photos

After ruling party PDP-Laban urged President Rodrigo Duterte to run as vice president with his daughter Sara as president in 2022 elections, political analysts say the tandem might get limited votes due to geographic distribution of voters.

According to political analyst Ramon Casiple, the two Dutertes came from Mindanao which means that they may not get enough votes from other areas of the country.

“Problematic ‘yan, kasi una ‘yong mga tatakbo, magkamag-anak, walang dagdag na boboto,” Casiple said.

Casiple emphasized that the Dutertes may have the votes of Mindanaoans but it is also crucial to obtain the votes of those who reside in Luzon as these count for about 45% of the voters’ population.

In March, Casiple also called the Duterte-Duterte tandem a 'negative factor' since Mindanao has 'a very low number of voters'.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated in his recent Palace press briefing that President Duterte has not decided yet whether he would run for VP or not in the 2022 polls.

“Pinag-iisipan pa rin po ni presidente ‘yong nominasyon niya as vice president at wala pa rin pong desisyon. Siguro kaunting antay naman po dahil darating naman ang punto na kinakailangang mag-desisyon ng lahat,” Roque said.

The spokesman also added that there is no constitutional impediment on the president’s alleged run for VP.

“Mayroon po tayong constitutional construction rule na what is not prohibited is allowed… Kung pinagbabawal po na ang presidente ay tumakbo ng VP, dapat sinulat po ‘yan o nagkaroon ng teksto sa saligang batas na nagpapabawal diyan,” Roque added.

Previously, Roque also defended President Duterte's potential bid for VP when 1Sambayan, a new opposition group, called it a "joke of the worst kind" by responding "Wala pa naman pong desisyon ang Presidente. Ang masasabi ko lang, baka the joke is maybe on them."


Report sources: ABS-CBN News and Manila Bulletin.

Video sources: UNTV and Harry Roque press briefing.