INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (The Adobo Chronicles, Washington Bureau) – All eyes are on the Philippines as the 7-day countown to the 2016 presidential elections has begun.  Everyone is watching, including Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump who told supporters in Indiana today: “If Duterte wins, I win!”

Many have compared Trump to the tough-talking, foul-mouthed mayor of Davao City who has gone from hesitant candidate to possibly being the next president of the Philippines.

Others consider Duterte worse than Trump.

While Trump wants to build a wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico, Duterte has challenged countries like Australia and the U.S. to completely cut ties with the Philippines, just because their ambassadors criticized him for his controversial remarks about the rape of an Australian missionary.

While Trump frequently asks his supporters to “take out” hecklers and protesters at his campaign rallies, Duterte promises to take out (translation: kill) criminals and drug users himself.

While Trump wants to repeal laws passed during the Obama administration, Duterte warns he will abolish congress if members criticize him or give him a hard time.

Both men continue to rise in the polls, and more so each time they utter some controversial statements and espouse policies that border on the autocratic and dictatorial.

So, on May 9, 2016, if Duterte wins the Philippine presidency, will it be a foreboding of a President Donald Trump being sworn in Washington D.C. next January?

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Vice presidential candidate and Camarines Sur 3rd district Representative Leni Robredo said that it would be difficult to work with presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte, the current survey front-runner for president, if he should win.

“I accepted the Liberal Party’s vice presidential nomination because I was assured by President Aquino that Mar Roxas and myself will win as a tandem — as president and vice president, respectively.”

“Duterte and I are the exact opposites and I don’t see working with him even remotely possible.”

With those words, Robredo said that if Duterte becomes president and she is elected vice president, she would resign from her post on the first day in office.

What happens if the office of the vice president is vacant?

According to the 1987 constitution, the next in line to the vice president is the president of the Senate, followed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

The only way Senator Bongbong Marcos or any of the vice presidential losers can succeed Robredo is for them to become Senate president.

All the vice presidential contenders, except Robredo, are incumbent senators.