President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he is not supporting any candidate to succeed him in the May 9 general elections.
Duterte, in a speech during the joint meeting of the national and regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Lapu-Lapu City, said he remains neutral.
This was despite his faction of the ruling party PDP Laban last week endorsing the candidacy of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the running mate of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“I am not supporting any presidential candidate. Neutral ako. So this is not a campaign because I am not campaigning for any particular candidate. So stop fu**g with me, kasi ito hindi pulitika,” Duterte said.
The President made the statement on the same day that he began campaign activities for PDP-Laban bets in Cebu, where he endorsed the party’s full senatorial slate, including its guest candidates.
“Siyempre, nandito ako, magmagandang loob ako, itong lahat na tumatakbo ngayong eleksyon, sana manalo sila [Of course, I am here, begging for your indulgence, for everyone running here in this election, I hope they all win],” he said.
Duterte’s PDP-Laban faction last week formally endorsed Marcos, Jr.’s presidential bid, even as the party was originally built to fight his father’s dictatorship.
While still mum on his preferred presidential bet, Duterte said he would not hesitate to “proclaim” local officials actively fighting illegal drugs and communist rebels.
“Iyong lahat ng mayors lalo na fighting the communists, active masyado, hindi ako makasabi na botohan mo sila, bawal man [All these mayors, especially those fighting the communists, they’re all active, I can’t say you should vote for them],” he said in jest.
Duterte added in jest in Bisaya: “Kisay pang mayor ang gusto magpa-endorse?” (Who among the mayors want endorsement?) Basta kalaban niyo mga komunista pati droga, proclaim ko kayo [As long as you are opposed to communists and drugs, I will proclaim you],” he said.
While there may be Commission on Election guidelines related to endorsing candidates, the President said these cannot prevent “freedom of expression.”