PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Monday, February 7, 2022, he cannot see a “compelling reason” yet to support a presidential candidate for the upcoming national elections.
During his Talk to the People Address aired on Tuesday, February 8, Duterte said almost all candidates have communicated with him, asking for support.
“I may, in the end, if I see that it would be my advice and maybe endorsement would help kung kailangan. But at this time, I am saying that I am not supporting anybody,” he said.
“Gusto ko kasi maglabas na puro ko kaibigan unless there is a compelling reason really for me to change my mind and decide to support a candidate,” he added.
Duterte said one of his considerations is the candidate’s stand on communism.
“We are fighting a war that has been going on for the past 53 years and we do not want to exacerbate the situation by electing a president na who would compromise the interest of government,” he said.
“Okay man ang tingin ko sa kanila except for a few misgivings about the danger of falling into the hands of, well, getting into a trap with the communists kasi para sa akin, it's about too late to be talking about peace talks. I do not think that the military would be happy about it. They are for this, and also the police because we have suffered deaths, patay, marami na for fighting a cause that's almost nil to nothing about the relevance of ideology. Wala na eh,” he added.
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 Emannuel “Manny” Pacquiao, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Labor leader Leody De Guzman.
Earlier, Duterte said he will reveal the names of presidential aspirants involved in corruption and other illegal activities “in due time.” (SunStar Philippines)