Prelate unconvinced by Duterte's retirement

A BISHOP has reacted with disbelief to President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement that he is retiring from politics.

Bishop Arturo Bastes said Duterte’s “constant” desire to be in power would make him retract his retirement and run for another government position, whether at national or local level. “I do not believe that declaration of retiring from politics. It is a bluff,” Bastes told the United Catholic Asian News.

“He still wants to be the power behind the throne - to support (Bongbong) Marcos, who wants to be president, and his own daughter (Sara), who has a similar ambition. He is so drunk with political power that he cannot retire from it sincerely even if he can no longer run for office. Of course, he faces prosecution by the International Court of Justice (over the bloody war on drugs). Hence, he will always need political power, even vicariously,” added the bishop, who is currently a Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines regional representative of south Luzon and member of Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate and Episcopal Commission on Liturgy.

Duterte declared he is retiring from politics after accompanying long-time ally and lawmaker Bong Go to file his certificate of candidacy for vice president in Manila on October 2.

He told a press conference that he would not participate in next year’s presidential election to obey the “overwhelming sentiment” of the Filipino people. “My future candidacy (for vice president) is being opposed because my critics say it is a violation of the constitution. More than that, the overwhelming sentiment of the Filipinos is that I am not qualified,” Duterte said.

“Now, I'd like to address myself to the entire nation. The universal sentiment of the Filipino has been reflected in the different surveys and in many forums caucuses and meetings to discuss what should I do in my life. The overwhelming sentiment of the Filipino is that I am not qualified and it would be a violation of the constitution to circumvent the law, the spirit of the constitution,” he added.

Duterte was referring to a recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations showing 60% of Filipinos believed Duterte would violate the constitution if he ran for the vice presidency. (Joseph Peter Calleja, UCAN)