President Duterte said he will support only his long-time aide Senator Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go in his quest for the presidency in the 2022 elections, saying he will soon reveal why he will not back the candidacies of both former Senator Ferdinand 'Bong Bong' Marcos Jr. and Senator Emmanuel 'Manny' Pacquiao.
Duterte made the statement after Go withdrew his candidacy for vice president at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Intramuros, Manila on Saturday, November 13, and instead filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) to run for president in next year's polls.
In an online interview streamed on YouTube Sunday past midnight with pro-Duterte vlogger Byron Cristobal, more known as Banat By, the President said he will reveal his reasons why he will not support Marcos or Pacquiao very soon.
"Manghingi lang ako ng ilang oras lang. Malaman na nila kung sino ang umikot. Hindi ako nagpapaikot (I'm just asking for a few hours. The people will now who's doing the manipulating. That's not me)," he said.
"I'm just asking for a few more hours at masasabi ko na kung ano ang talagang totoo. Sa kampanya sabihin ko bakit hindi ako pwedeng magsuporta kay Marcos. Ganoon din kay Pacquiao at sa iba (and I can tell the truth. In the campaign I will tell you why I can't support Marcos. The same goes for Pacquiao and the others)," he added.
Only Go
President Duterte explained that he will support Go because he has known him, for the longest time, as a person who has not exaggerated his abilities.
He likewise lauded Go's honesty.
"Alam ko sa taon na nagserbisyo sa akin, alam ko isang ano is talagang honest. Wala ka talagang makita tsaka masilip (From the many years he's worked for me, I know that he is really honest. You can't find any fault in him)," the President said.
He reiterated that he never expressed support for any other candidate except for Go.
"Ni minsan wala kayong narinig na mag-Marcos ako. Wala, wala kayong narinig (You never heard me said even once that I will support Marcos)," President Duterte said.
"Kailanman hindi ako nagsalita na may susuportahan ako-- si Marcos o si Pacquiao. Wala 'yan sila. Kinakausap ko lang for respeto, eh gusto akong makausap (I never said that I will support anyone-- neither Marcos nor Pacquiao. They're nothing. I just talk to them out of respect and because they wanted to talk to me)," he added.
Manipulated
President Duterte also denied that Go is only manipulating him for his gains.
"Napaka kawawa ko naman kung didiktahan lang ako ng isang... kasama ko dito sa trabaho (I will be very pitiful if I will let someone whom I work with dictate on me)," he said.
"Ako ang magdikta sa kanya, hindi ako nagpapadikta. Ako siguro ang magsasabi sa kanya kung ano ang gawin mo. What's next, ika nga (I will dictate on him, not the other way around. Perhaps I will be the one to tell him what he should do next)," he added.
According to the President, he was the one who encouraged Go to pursue the presidency after he saw him crying in public because of the developments, particularly when Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio withdrew her candidacy for reelection.
"Sabi ko, 'Bakit ka mag-iyak, karaming posisyon? Pareho lang din ng pagod 'yan. Ayan oh, presidente. Baka pala maawa ang Diyos sa iyo. 'Di, tumakbo ka ng presidente (I asked him why is he crying when there are many positions available. They are all equally tiring. The presidency is there. The Lord may have pity on you. You should run for president),'" he recalled telling Go.