MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated that he does not have any presidential candidate now even until December, which is already beyond the May 9 elections.
“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 during his taped address to the nation aired 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 the Cabinet is not prohibited to support anyone, the president encourages them to be neutral.
Duterte has repeatedly said that he will remain neutral in the elections despite the endorsement of his party the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for president.
Marcos is the running mate of Duterte’s daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Duterte has only endorsed his daughter and several hopefuls seeking a Senate seat.
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