Palace: Duterte VP remark not admission of guilt

Malacañang stated that President Rodrigo Duterte's remark about running for vice president to gain immunity is merely a statement of fact, not an admission of wrongdoing.

Duterte previously expressed his intention to run for vice president in the 2022 elections, citing the legal immunity granted to the President and Vice President as a protection against potential lawsuits from his critics.

A faction of the PDP-Laban party, led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, has been encouraging Duterte to pursue the vice presidency.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque mentioned that critics like Senator Leila de Lima and lawyer Romulo Macalintal also acknowledge the immunity enjoyed by a sitting Vice President.

Roque further suggested that Duterte's statement presents an opportunity to re-examine and potentially challenge existing laws concerning immunity for elected officials, specifically for the vice president.

The President's comment was made during the oath-taking ceremony of new PDP-Laban officials.