MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday stated that he will not endorse any presidential aspirant in order to prevent suspicion that he will use public funds to fund his preferred successor’s campaign.
“Ang akin kasi eh presidente ako tapos magkampi ako ng isa, magdududa ‘yung iba, ginagamit ko ‘yung resources ng gobyerno, magulo na (My take is if you are a president and you side with one candidate, some will cast doubt that you are using the government resources. It would be a problem),” Duterte said in his prerecorded Talk to the People.
Duterte maintained his stance of being “neutral”, stressing he would not support the candidacy of any presidential candidate.
“Ako, wala akong kandidato, hindi ako namumulitika (I don’t have preferred candidate. I am not politicking). I’m just announcing. Wala akong kandidato ni sino man sa pagka-presidente (I’m not supporting any presidential candidate). I remain neutral,” Duterte said.
Duterte has declined to endorse any presidential candidate, claiming that he does not want to be falsely accused.
“If you are a president and you have the resources na nasa beck and call mo, ano man ang gawain mo masuspetya ang tao na ginagamit mo para sa isang kandidato (whatever you do, people will suspect that you will use that for your preferred candidate) even if it is not true,” he said.
From the beginning of the election campaign period until election day, any individual is forbidden from raising funds for an election campaign or for the support of any candidate under the Omnibus Election Code.
Any individual or group, civic or religious, is likewise prohibited from directly or indirectly soliciting or accepting funds from any candidate for public office, his campaign manager, or representative.
In March, the Comelec also passed Resolution 10772, which limits domestic firms’ campaign contributions for partisan political activities.
Under the resolution, the “reasonable” amount of campaign contributions from domestic corporations should “not exceed 5 percent of the corporation’s taxable income on a taxable year immediately preceding elections from trade, business, or profession.”
Duterte stated again that he will only support his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who is running for vice president.
He stated that he supports Sara’s vice presidential candidacy since she is his daughter.
“At itong isa, kaya nga wala kaming kandidato (I don’t have any candidate), except of course my daughter, so I have to mention her because she is my daughter,” Duterte said. “I’m just trying to avoid politicking because baka masabit tayo sa Comelec (I don’t want to be questioned by Comelec).”
