FAR Eastern University’s law dean and Social Media personality Mel Sta. Maria rebuked President Rodrigo Duterte for saying that he will run for Vice President to have immunity from lawsuits.

Sta. Maria said that the VP is not immune from lawsuits.

“WALA sa Konstitusyon  at sa ating jurisprudence na may immunity ang bise-president. PALPAK  kayo dyan sir. BASIC to the point of being elementary sa mga law students ang puntong iyan,” Sta. Maria said on Facebook on Sunday.

He cited the case of Vice President Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo who faced an array of charges in 2019.

“BY THE WAY SIR, kung iyan ang punto ninyo, eh bakit si VP LENI kinasuhan ng  sedition, inciting to sedition, cyber-libel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal  at obstruction of justice nung Hulyo 2019?” Sta. Maria said.

“KUNG SI VP LENI PWEDENG KASUHAN, BAKIT KAYO (kung maging bise presidente) HINDI?  Si VP Leni hinarap ang mga kaso ng matapang at sabayan at nanalo kasi walang merit yung mga cases. Kayo sir kaya nyo ba mag ala-LENI? Di pa nangyayari, may excuse na, mali pa.  Nagtatanong lang po,” he added.

Duterte had said that he will run for Vice President in 2022. His supporters are batting for a Duterte-Duterte tandem, with the president running alongside his daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte.