PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday, January 24, 2022, he will reveal the names of presidential aspirants involved in corruption and other illegal activities “in due time.”
“I will personally name the candidates and maybe what’s wrong with them na kailangan malaman ng tao (the people have to know) because you are electing a president, sino ‘yong pinaka-corrupt na kandidato (who is the most corrupt),” he said during his Talk to the People Address aired on Tuesday morning, January 25.
“Meron d’yan who has talagang hindi puwede maging president...Meron naman d’yan na presidente, pero masyadong korap. Akala lang kasi ng tao malinis, pero iyong mga nag-transact sa business sa kaniya, official business pati iyong mga Chinese, nagreklamo na na masyadong korap daw,” he added.
(One candidate is really not fit to become president... Another is very corrupt. The people see the candidate as clean, but those who have transacted businesses with the candidate have complained of corruption.)
He said another aspirant is “lacking” and tends to say something wrong each day even on the fundamentals of what a person aspiring for the top government post should know.
Duterte said the information he has at hand came from “everybody” and based on personal experiences and observation.
He maintained he was not politicking and will do it as the President of the Republic.
“Kailangan malaman ng tao because you are electing a president...Hindi ako namumulitika (I am not politicking). I am talking to you as your president. There are things you must know... Kailangan ilalabas ko kasi (I need to spill it because) we are talking of elections, we are talking of our country and the next rulers, so to say, so to speak," said Duterte.
"Bahala na kayo if you still believe me, I will thank you. If you reject it, bahala kayo (It’s up to you whether to believe me or not). It is your country, it is not only mine," he added.
Earlier, Duterte claimed that one of the presidential aspirants was into using cocaine.
Duterte did not identify the presidential aspirant he was referring to.
He only gave a hint that the person came from a rich family whose patriarch was a prominent personality.
Duterte said “he has a very weak leader” character and has yet to accomplish anything for the country.
Among the prominent individuals who filed their certificates of candidacy for president were former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Labor leader Leody De Guzman. (SunStar Philippines)