FOR the nth time, President Duterte said he is not endorsing any presidential candidate in the May elections lest he be accused of using government funds for campaigning.
Duterte has endorsed his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio who is running for vice president under the UniTeam ticket with former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Whose presidential bid is being backed by the pro-Duterte faction of the ruling PDP-Laban party.
The President, in his “Talk to the People” address on Tuesday, said he is neutral and is not politicking.
“Presidente ako tapos magkampi ako ng isa, magdududa ‘yung iba, ginagamit ko ‘yung resources ng gobyerno, magulo na. If you are a president and you have the resources na nasa beck and call mo, ano man ang gawain mo magsuspetya ang tao na ginagamit mo para sa isang kandidato. Even if it is not true (I am the President and I would ally myself with one, someone would suspect that I am using government resources. If you are a president and you have the resources that are at your beck and call, whatever you do, the people would suspect that you are using it for your candidate. Even if it is not true),” he said.
Duterte said even if some projects and programs already have specific budget allocations and timelines, people would suspect these are being implemented to promote a specific candidate.
“Ako, wala akong kandidato, hindi ako namumulitika, I’m just announcing. Wala akong kandidato ni sino man sa pagka-presidente. I remain neutral (I do not have a candidate, I am not politicking, I’m just announcing. I do not have a candidate for president. I remain neutral),” he added.
The President last week said he is only endorsing and voting for his daughter.
Duterte-Carpio thanked her father but said she has not yet talked to the President. She expressed hope Duterte will endorse Marcos Jr. who has vowed to continue some of the programs started by the President such as the Build, Build, Build infrastructure program and the campaign against crime and illegal drugs.
