After PDP-Laban backs Marcos' bid, Duterte insists to remain neutral
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — After bagging the support of the majority ruling PDP-Laban party, presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has yet to earn his much-hoped endorsement from the incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte.
On Thursday night, Duterte said partly in Filipino: "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," Duterte was quoted in a tweet report by The STAR.
‘NEUTRAL AKO’
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) March 31, 2022
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday evening emphasized that he is not endorsing any presidential candidate in this year’s national elections.
“This is not a campaign because I am not campaigning for any particular candidate,” he added. #BilangPilipino2022 pic.twitter.com/ner1Ejl8oS
Last March 24, Palace spokesperson Martin Andanar confirmed last week that Duterte met with Marcos, but he said the outgoing president only talked about his experiences and insights with the presidential aspirant.
Marcos has long admitted to courting the incumbent president for his endorsement, and so far, he already bagged the support of several political parties including PDP-Laban.
But the majority ruling party’s chairman, Duterte, has yet to give his endorsement of the survey frontrunner.
Last February, the president said he won't endorse any candidate for president unless there is a "compelling reason" for him to change his mind.
After his party declared support to Marcos’ bid, Duterte however talked about the issue of unpaid estate tax. Although he did not identify anyone, Marcos is being hounded by the estimated P203 billion tax deficiencies their family has yet to pay. This is also an issue he himself refused to address personally.
In November last year, Duterte described Marcos as "spoiled" and a "weak leader" with baggage.
UniTeam
PDP-Laban, although, has long adopted Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the running-mate of Marcos, as their vice presidential bet.
Marcos and Duterte, dubbed as UniTeam, wooed Mindanao voters this week. In an ambush interview with reporters in Carmen, Davao del Norte on Wednesday, the presidential daughter distanced herself from the meeting between her father and running-mate.
“I do not know what they talked about. I was not there during the meeting,” she said partly in Filipino.
Marcos in a recent interview said he identifies himself as an administration ally. Although at some point, when Sen. "Christopher" Bong Go was still in the presidential derby, Rodriguez said this was then inaccurate. Marcos had promised to continue the administration’s programs like the Build, Build, Build. — with report from The STAR/Alexis Romero
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