MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has justified his decision not to endorse a presidential aspirant, saying he wants to avoid suspicions that he is using state resources to promote a candidate.
"Talking about the elections, I do not have a candidate, I do not engage in politicking. I’m just announcing. I do not have a candidate for president. I remain neutral," the president said in Filipino during a pre-recorded public address aired Monday night.
"I am the president and if I side with anyone, others would suspect that I am using the resources of the government. It would be messy. If you are a president and you have the resources at your beck and call, whatever you do, people would suspect that you are using them for a candidate," he added.
However, Duterte reiterated his support for his daughter, Davao City mayor and vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio, without mentioning her name in his address. Carpio is running under the Uniteam Alliance led by presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
"We do not have a candidate, except of course my daughter, so I have to mention her because she is my daughter. Whatever my dynamics are with their party, she is my daughter. So just one (candidate) and also the senators that I hope to install there but I am not mentioning any names," he said in Filipino.
"I'm just trying to avoid politicking because we might get in trouble with the Comelec (Commission on Elections)."
Last February, Duterte said he is not supporting any candidate for president unless there is a "compelling reason" for him to change his mind.
The following month, the president's allies in the PDP-Laban party endorsed the candidacy of Marcos.
While Duterte is the chairman of PDP-Laban, he has repeatedly said that he would remain neutral on the presidential race. Late last year, Duterte said he was not impressed by the younger Marcos, whom he described as "spoiled" and a "weak leader."