President Rodrigo Duterte announced he would not endorse any presidential candidate for the 2022 elections unless he sees a “compelling reason” in the following months.
“Almost all of the candidates in one way or the other, communicated to me na nakipag usap, nanghingi ng suporta,” said Duterte on the eve of the three-month campaign period for national positions.
“I may in the end if I see that my advice, maybe endorsement, could help kung kailangan. But at this time, I am saying that I’m not supporting anybody,” he added.
“Unless there is a compelling reason for me to change my mind I decide to support a candidate,” Duterte said.
Last month, Duterte said he would talk about the presidential candidates in the 2022 elections in “due time.”
During his pre-recorded Talk to the People, Duterte said he would reveal who is the “most corrupt” among the presidential candidates.
Duterte has yet to endorse presidential candidate
“In due time, I will personally name the candidates, maybe what is wrong with them. Kailangan malaman ng tao [the people need to know] because you are electing a president,” the President said.
“[I will tell you] kung sino iyong pinaka-corrupt na kandidato. Hindi ako namumulitika [I will tell you who is the most corrupt candidate. I am not politicking]. I am talking to you as your President. There are things you must know,” he added.
But now, the President said all the presidential aspirants were qualified but expressed doubt that they should negotiate peace with the communists.
“All of them they are all qualified. Those running now are qualified to be president,” Duterte said.
“Okay ang tingin ko sa kanila except of misgivings of danger of falling into the hands of getting into the trap of the communists kasi para sa akin it’s about too late to be talking about peace talks,” he added.
He noted that many law enforcers died fighting communist groups.
“I don’t think the military will be happy about it and also the police. Because we have suffered deaths, patay. Marami na for fighting a cause that reel to nothing to relevance of ideology,” Duterte said.
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