Palace: Campaigning with endorsed senatorial bets not in Duterte’s calendar

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is not seen to physically campaign with his endorsed 2022 senatorial candidates as it is not in his calendar, Malacañang said Friday.

Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said Duterte is currently “okay” and he is “busy with work.”

“With regard to physically joining mga senatorial candidates, walang official entries in his official calendar to that effect,” he said in a Palace briefing.

Two senatorial candidates have so far earned the endorsement of Duterte in the 2022 elections: former senator JV Ejercito, whom the President has described “friend and a partner” of his administration, and former presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo.

READ: Duterte endorses senatorial bid of friend, admin’s ‘partner’ JV Ejercito

Duterte, however, during the filing of the certificates of candidate in October last year, accompanied his allies running for senator, namely:

-Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar

-Information and Technology Secretary Gringo Honasan III

-Agriarian Reform Secretary John Castriones

-Anti-corruption commissioner Greco Belgica

-Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta

-actor Robin Padilla

They are all part of the slate of a faction of the PDP-Laban Duterte is leading.

READ: Duterte graces COC filing to support allies vying for Senate seats

So far, the President is still not yet endorsing any presidential candidate, Nograles said, echoing Duterte’s earlier pronouncement.

Duterte earlier said he is not supporting any presidential candidate “at this time” “unless there is a compelling reason” for him to do so.

“Ganoon pa rin ang stand ni Pangulo,” Nograles said.

(That is still his stand.)

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