By Quian Vencel Galut

PHOTO: PCOO

Malacañang said Thursday President Rodrigo Duterte’s right to run should be considered as the COVID-19 pandemic is still the administration’s priority

“Running for public office is a right of every Filipino,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque claimed during his press briefing.

When asked on how Duterte could improve the country’s COVID-19 situation while preparing for his vice presidential run for the 2022 elections, Roque stressed: “Hindi naman po natin pwede limitahan ang karapatan ng Presidente na tumakbo. ‘Yan po ay karapatan ng lahat ng Pilipino.”

“Pero sa tingin ko po, sa mula’t-mula, number one priority ng Presidente itong COVID,” he said further.



Despite having “not so enough resources” against the pandemic, particularly COVID-19 vaccines, Roque proudly said the Philippines has done “fairly well” in its response.

“At kaya nga po, kahit papano, kahit konti ang ating resources kung ikukumpara sa iba, kahit sinosolo ng mayaman na bansa ang mga bakuna, eh umuubra naman po tayo. Namamanage naman po natin fairly well ang ating COVID response,” he said.

“Tingin ko po kahit anong maging plano ng Presidente, pangunahing attention pa rin niya ang pandemya,” he added.

Last Tuesday, the President accepted to run for vice-presidency for next year, according to the ruling party PDP-LABAN.