President Duterte said that his meeting with candidates for the 2022 elections does not mean anything special but explained that it is just part of being a politician.
Duterte made this statement 40 days before the upcoming May 9, 2022 elections.
In his pre-recorded "Talk to the People" on Tuesday evening, March 29, President Duterte explained that the public address started late because he had to meet several candidates first.
However, he explained that meeting candidates was just part of a politician's life.
"Maraming pumunta dito, hindi ko na sabihin kung sino ---nanghihingi ng suporta kaya late kami ngayon nag-umpisa. I had to (I will not name names but many came here asking for my support that's why we started late. I had to)," he said.
"Siyempre (Of course), I had to talk to them, taas ng kamay nila. Well, ang buhay ng pulitiko (and raise their hand. Well, that's the life of a politician)," he added.
"Aside from the President running a government, I'm a politician because I am an elected official, worker of government. Iyan ang totoo diyan (That's the reality)," he continued.
In his press briefing on Wednesday, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said that he did not know who the candidates the President was referring to since he only attended the meeting virtually.
President Duterte has yet to endorse a candidate to be his successor in Malacañang. He has decided to stay neutral unless there would be a compelling reason to support a presidential aspirant.
However, his party PDP-Laban had endorsed the tandem of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as their candidate for president and vice president. It remains unclear whether this is the stand of the President.
However, last week, it was revealed that President Duterte met with Marcos, a candidate whom he once said he would not support because he is a "weak leader."