MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday stated that he is not supporting any presidential bets in the upcoming May 2022 elections “at this time”.
According to Duterte, almost all candidates vying to be his successor sought his endorsement.
“If I see that it would be — my advice and maybe endorsement would help kung kailangan (if necessary). But at this time, I am saying that I am not supporting anybody,” he said in a prerecorded Talk to the People on Monday.
He did say, however, that if there is “a compelling reason” to change his mind, he will announce which candidate he will support.
“I am not into supporting anybody right now. But if I think that there’s a need to talk and to make a noise because hindi naman — pero (perhaps not —but) you just put in peril iyong gobyerno mismo (the government itself),” he added.
While Duterte stated that all candidates are “qualified” to run for president, he noted that “some” have views that he does not agree with.
He did not identify the candidates.
There are now 10 candidates vying for the presidency in the May 9 elections.
“May iba kasi diyan na may ideology ang nakasabit eh (There are some candidates who have ideologies linked to them),” Duterte said. “They are all qualified kung sino man sila (whoever they are), those running now are qualified to be president. I hope so but… Okay man ang tingin ko sa kanila (I think all of them are okay) except for a few misgivings about the danger of falling into the hands of — well, getting into a trap with the communists…”.
He also stated that to talk peace with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is “too late”.
The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party has yet to officially endorse a presidential bet for the upcoming elections.
When asked if Duterte’s remarks on which candidate to endorse will have an effect on the PDP-Laban’s decision, Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles stated that consensus-building and discussions among officials are still ongoing.
“Patuloy pa rin itong pinaguusapan ng PDP-Laban, yung National Executive Committee pati yung mga leaders ng PDP-Laban dahil ang sinabi ng Pangulo kagabi ay at this time wala pa siyang sinusuportahan na kandidato subalit sinabi niya rin unless there is a compelling reason for me to change my mind (The leaders of the PDP-Laban, the National Executive Committee are still discussing this because the President said last night that at this time he is not supporting any candidate but he also said unless there is a compelling reason for me to change my mind),” Nograles said in a virtual Palace briefing on Tuesday.
