President Rodrigo Duterte. File photo / Screenshot from PCOO video
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday national candidates have earlier sent representatives to seek his support for the May 9 polls even before the start of the election season.
“For those really na naniniwala, talaga hong wala akong kinausap. Noong ano pa, wala pang election period, ‘yung national, silang lahat nagpadala ng emissary and I respectfully just declined to say anybody, ‘yung pag-usapan na ‘yung suporta ko para sa kanya,” he said in an interview with Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar.
(To those who believe, I really did not speak with any candidate. Even before the election period, all the candidates for national posts have sent an emissary and I respectfully declined to say anybody when they asked about my support.)
“Nakipagkita sila lahat sa akin (They all met with me),” he added.
Less than three months before the national and local elections, Duterte said he has yet to decide who to support for his successor.
He said he may or may not endorse anyone, and that he prefers to stay neutral.
“Ibig sabihin wala akong susuportahan na kandidato (It means I will not support any candidate) unless—again having said it and I’ll say it again—there would be a compelling reason for me to go out and tell the people what it is. I’d like to bide my time,” the President said.