No Duterte endorsement for frontrunner Marcos Jr.

MANILA, Philippines — Up until the last hour of the campaign season, presidential frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. failed to secure his much hoped endorsement from incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte.

Marcos has admitted he is actively courting for the president’s backing, claiming that every candidate would want the incumbent to push for their bid.

Many expected that Duterte’s endorsement would closely follow after Marcos finally secured the support of the PDP-Laban party, where the incumbent sits as chairman.

After all, Marcos is running hand and hand with Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte who secured the endorsement much earlier.

But the elder Duterte remained adamant and insisted he would remain neutral for his pick of a successor.

The tough-talking president had not hidden his disdain for Marcos Jr. in his past speeches, calling him a “weak leader” and “spoiled.” He even hinted of a candidate who was addicted to cocaine—an allegation that presidential bets, including Marcos, swiftly denied.

Up to earlier this week, Duterte in his Talk to the People that aired May 3, said: “Wala akong kandidato pagka-president ngayon hanggang Disyembre para maano ninyo na wala kami, and even the Cabinet.”