Marcos still hopeful of getting Duterte’s nod

Former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is still hopeful of getting the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte, who publicly called him a “very weak leader.” (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON)

GUIGUINTO, Bulacan, Philippines — With just two months left before the May 9 elections, presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. remains hopeful of getting President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement.

“We’re still hopeful and waiting for the very valuable endorsement from the President,” lawyer Victor Rodriguez, spokesperson for Marcos, told reporters here.

“We are hoping he will endorse presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos and of course our vice presidential candidate Mayor Inday Sara Duterte,” he added.

Marcos Jr., the standard-bearer of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, is the running mate of Mayor Duterte, the chair of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

In November last year, Duterte rejected a possible coalition between his party, the PDP-Laban, and his daughter’s party because “Marcos is there.”

He even publicly criticized Marcos, calling him a “very weak leader” and a “spoiled child.”

On Feb. 7, Duterte said he was not supporting any presidential candidate “at this time,” unless there would be a “compelling reason” to change his decision.