President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday has again denied that he is throwing his support for any presidential candidate in the upcoming elections.
"Let me reiterate, I am not supporting any presidential candidate. Neutral ako," Duterte said in a speech in Cebu.
(Let me reiterate, I am not supporting any presidential candidate. I am neutral.)
"So this is not a campaign because I am not campaigning for any particular candidate. So stop with me kasi ito hindi ito pulitika," he added.
(So this is not a campaign because I am not campaigning for any particular candidate. So stop with me because this is not politics.)
He made the remarks a week after the Duterte-backed faction of PDP-Laban, headed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, announced that it is endorsing presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Malacañang later clarified, however, that the decision of PDP-Laban to endorse Marcos Jr. was the made by the party and not the president.
"The President himself has not given any statement if he is supporting or not this [candidate for] president," said acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar in a previous press briefing.
Duterte previously said he is hoping for a compassionate lawyer to lead the Philippines after his term. He also previously expressed dislike to Marcos Jr. after calling him a "weak" leader.
