Malacañang: “You know the President, he likes to play with words and he loves to horse around.”
MALACAÑANG — On Tuesday, the Palace reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte is not endorsing any presidential candidate for the 2022 elections.
Citing President Duterte, Presidential Communications Secretary and acting Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar said in a Presidential press briefing that the President will not support any presidential candidate but may change his mind if there’s a “compelling reason” to do so.
Andanar also defended the remark of the President to choose an Ilocano leader when his term ends during his recent speech in Ilocos Sur.
According to Andanar, it’s best to wait for the President to make a final decision on whether or not he would endorse any presidential bet.
“Antayin nalang natin ang magiging desisyon ng ating mahal na Pangulo,” Andanar said. “Kung ano ang sinabi ni Presidente sa Ilocos, you know the President, he likes to play with words, he loves to horse around.”
Andanar made this remark after the President, in a recent event in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, told the Ilocano crowd to choose the Ilocano leader they favor.
READ ALSO: President Duterte Tells Ilocanos To Choose Ilocano Leader When His Term Ends
To recall, the President told the Ilocano crowd during the inauguration of the Narvacan Farmers Market last March 4 that they can select which Ilocano leader they want to install in Malacañang.
Without mentioning presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, who is the only Ilocano candidate running for the country’s top leadership, the President went on to say that many Ilocanos are members of his Cabinet, with several of them running for senator in 2022 elections.
Even if his daughter, vice-presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is married to an Ilocano from Paoay, Ilocos Norte, is the running mate of Bongbong Marcos, President Duterte has stood firm in his decision to “stay neutral”.
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