MANILA – Former president Rodrigo Duterte can once again run for presidency in 2028 if ever his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, is removed from office via impeachment.
According to Davao del Norte 1st District’s Cong. Pantaleon Alvarez, there is no explicit prohibition under 1987 Constitution against a former leader running again after his first term ended.
Alvarez said that can be the scenario if the impeachment case against Duterte-Carpio will prosper, and it will be a tough blow to those who are pushing for the Vice President’ s ouster.
“Mas disadvantageous sa kanila ‘yun. Kung hindi nga makatakbo si VP Sara, eh nandyan pa naman si former president Rodrigo Duterte. Puwede naman siya tumakbo,” Alvarez said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At The Forefront program on Tuesday.
“Remember, ang prohibition sa Constitution ay reelection. Pag sinabi mong reelection, kailangan sitting president siya. Eh hindi naman sitting president si President Rodrigo Duterte ngayon,” he added.
Alvarez pointed to Article VII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that a sitting president is prohibited from seeking reelection — but does not explicitly bar a former president from running again after stepping down.
“Puwede pa. Tignan mo ha, bakit ‘yung senador, magpahinga lang ng tatlong taon, takbo ulit? Puwede. Eh bakit hindi puwede sa dating presidente?” Alvarez said.
Alvarez also pointed out that the key issue lies in the principle of equal protection under the law — that if senators and congressmen are allowed to run again after a break, the same logic should apply to a former president.
“Ang malakas dito ay ‘yung equal protection of laws sa Constitution. Kasi kung puwede sa senador, puwede sa congressman, eh bakit hindi puwede sa former president na nagpahinga na siya?” he reasoned./PN
