President Rodrigo Duterte emphasized that he will not endorse a presidential contender until December, already after the May 9 polls.
“Ulitin ko, may haka-haka palagi na ganito kasi (I repeat, there are assumptions that) just because I’m seen in the company of them, it’s not that, I’m president, I have to go where my duty mandates me to,” Duterte said in his Talk to the People, taped on Monday and aired on Tuesday.
“Wala. Wala akong kandidato pagka-presidente ngayon hanggang Disyembre. Wala kami, even the Cabinet,” he added.
(None. I do not have any candidate for president now until December. None, even the Cabinet.)
Although it is not forbidden for the Cabinet to favor someone, the president wants them to remain impartial.
Despite his party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), endorsing former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for president, Duterte has stated that he will remain impartial in the elections.
Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is Marcos’ running partner.
The President has only endorsed his daughter and a few other Senate hopefuls.
President Rodrigo Duterte urged the public on Tuesday to receive their COVID-19 booster shots ahead of the May 9 polls.
Duterte will not endorse any presidential candidate
This is to protect them while they vote, as crowding and congregation are to be expected throughout the election season.
“‘Yung booster shots ninyo, it’s still available and anybody can have it because it’s election time. There will be crowding again and congregating so it’s good to have your booster before you go out to the crowd,” he said.
To avoid another outbreak of COVID-19, Duterte further warned the population not to be complacent.
“Complacency is really the enemy of preventing again and allowing the COVID-19 to come back. Sabagay, this would not be as serios as before, kasi bakunado tayo,” he said.
In February, Duterte asked voters to replace some long-serving senators with new faces. He promoted several of his own candidates, including former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, anticorruption commissioner Greco Belgica, actor Robin Padilla, and former Rep. Rodante Marcoleta.
“Help your country, help me. I’m giving you the wisest choice of people out there seeking acceptance,” he said.
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