MANILA, Philippines-The Commission on Elections (Comelec) sees nothing wrong with inaugurations of 2022 candidates taking place in June-even on June 30, the victorious president and vice president must legally take office. according to the Constitution of 1987

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia stated this on Tuesday, after presumptive vice president and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio stated her intention to take the oath on Thursday (May 19) in their city.

“Two past presidents took their oath at 11:45 a.m., not exactly at 12 o’clock, so it may have felt earlier,” Garcia remarked at a press conference.

“Basta ang usapan lang ‘yung mago-oath, number one, maga-assume at exactly 12 o’clock [on June 30] at number two, dapat ‘yung content ng kanilang oath ay ‘yun ang nakalagay sa Constitution.”

Duterte-Carpio, President Rodrigo Duterte’s son, stated that he wanted to be the first to be sworn in so that he could witness the inauguration of probable President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

If the normal day of the ceremony is not observed, Duterte-Carpio would take the oath even though Vice President Leni Robredo’s term does not expire until June 30.

These are terms of Article VII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution.

The President and the Vice-President shall be elected by direct vote of the people for a term of six years which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following the day of the election and shall end at noon of the same date, six years thereafter.

“As to whether the oath should take place at precisely 12 o’clock, we have had many successful presidents, including Barack Obama and Donald Trump (of America), who are the same in the provision of our Constitution, and they swore even several minutes before 12 o’clock,” Garcia noted.

These should be mentioned that Duterte-Carpio received the most votes for vice president, with 31.56 million cast in the Comelec’s preliminary and unofficial total.

Sen. Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan came in second with 9.23 million votes.