THE camp of Davao City Mayor and presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio said despite her oath-taking being held at an earlier date, the mayor will still assume her position on June 30.
This was clarified by Duterte-Carpio's spokesperson Liloan, Cebu Mayor Christina Frasco in a forwarded statement to the media on Wednesday afternoon, May 18.
"While VP-elect Sara will take her oath on June 19, she will formally assume the Office of the Vice President and begin her term at noon of June 30, as ordained by the 1987 Philippine Constitution," Frasco said in a statement.
Duterte-Carpio said on Monday, May 16, that she is eyeing to have her inauguration on June 19 in Davao while awaiting the date of her proclamation.
Frasco said Duterte-Carpio’s inauguration will also serve as her thanksgiving to the people of Davao and Mindanao where she began her political career that they may be given the opportunity to witness the oath-taking of a vice president.
She also said having the inauguration slated at an earlier date would give her the opportunity to witness the inauguration of her running mate, presumptive President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., who is currently in Australia and has not yet mentioned when and where he will stage his oath-taking.
"In holding the inauguration on June 19, VP-elect Sara will be able to attend the subsequent inauguration of President-elect Bongbong Marcos so she may also join him in thanksgiving for the overwhelming support of the Filipino people," Frasco said.
The spokesperson declined to comment when asked by media if Marcos and Duterte-Carpio's father, outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, will be attending Sara's oath-taking.
In a report from the Philippine News Agency, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said there is nothing wrong with the plan of the leading vice presidential candidate to hold her oath-taking ahead of June 30.
"It can be done earlier. This is as long as they assume office at 12:01 p.m. on June 30 and the content of the oath is similar to the one in the Constitution. That's what is provided for by the Constitution," he said in a press conference.
"It is not indicated in the law that the actual oath should happen at exactly 12 noon of June 30," the poll body commissioner added.
Garcia said conducting oath-takings of office ahead of June 30 has been done in the past.