President Duterte is wondering over the "honesty" of Senator Panfilo Lacson, a declared candidate for President in the 2022 elections.
In his pre-recorded "Talk to the People" public briefing on Monday night that was aired Tuesday morning, Aug. 31, Duterte noted how election-related verbal hostilities among politicians have already begun.
"Eleksyon naman na ganito, maaga eh, maaga ang banatan eh. So yung iba may tinatago, may...lalabas ito lahat. Kung labasan lang naman, eh 'di ilabas na natin lahat (It's already the election season and the tirades have come early. Some are hiding secrets...these will all come out. If they're coming out anyway, then let's reveal all of them)," he said.
Duterte then brought up administration critic Lacson in particular and asked him a question.
"Baka sabihin ng mga tao kayo lang ang marunong (The people might say you're the only ones who know how)...to be honest. Really?
"Tanungin ko si Panfilo Lacson (I want to ask Panfilo Lacson), are you honest? Answer me truthfully, are you honest?" the President said.
"Kung magsabi ka 'yes', sasagutin kita next program. May 'pakita ako (I'll have a reply in the next program if you say 'yes'. I'll show something)," Duterte said in a teasing manner. He then dropped the topic for the rest of the 135-minute briefing.
Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP), announced in July that he would run for president in the May 2022 national polls. He said that this running mate would be Senate President Tito Sotto.
Earlier in the briefing, Duterte underscored that senators like Lacson and Imee Marcos have never had any political ties with him.
"I understand where you come from, wala naman akong ano sa inyo (I don't have anything to do with you), never had any connection. Wala akong political (I don't have a political)...even the least, pagtakbo ko ng presidente, wala kayo. Totoo lang, wala tayong kuneksyon sa ano (When I ran for president, you weren't there. It's true, we are not connected)," he said of Lacson and Marcos.
Referring only to Lacson, Duterte also said: "There will be questions in the days to come na lalabas (they will come out)...Nagpunta dito ‘yung mga kalaban mo, nagbigay rin ng dokumento, so babasahin namin ‘yan (Your enemies went here and gave documents too, so we will read those)."
Duterte, a former longtime Davao City mayor, won the 2016 presidential race in landslide fashion despite not being viewed as a political heavyweight, particularly in Luzon.
Lacson vied for the presidency in 2004, and has not been a major contender since then.
The filing of the certificates of candidacy for the 2022 elections will be held from October 1-8.