Duterte defends Andanar’s presence in PDP-Laban campaign sortie

MANILA, Philippines—Despite his order to Cabinet officials to keep off the campaign trail, President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday defended Communications Secretary Martin Andanar’s presence in a recent PDP-Laban campaign sortie, saying that his father was among the ruling party’s founding members.

Talking to reporters after administering the oath-taking of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, Duterte said Andanar is an “ideologue” and his guidance is “very important” to PDP-Laban members.

On Thursday, Andanar admitted representing former presidential aide and now senatorial aspirant Bong Go to a campaign event in San Juan City.

This despite the President’s recent order to Cabinet officials not to campaign for or against any candidate in the upcoming May polls.

READ: Cabinet members told to keep off campaign trail

However, Andanar claimed that his presence at the PDP-Laban event had the blessing of Duterte.

“I did not allow the other members (of the Cabinet) because they might — they will be campaigning if they want to and they will be using government cars, fuel and I wanted to remove that kind of issue just to be fair,” Duterte told reporters in Malacañang.

“But Andanar, he’s an ideologue. His guidance is very important to all of the PDP members. He’s a son of one of the founding fathers of PDP-Laban. And there are only a few of them left (original),” he added. /ee