President Duterte on Thursday, March 31, maintained that he is not supporting any presidential candidate in the May 2022 elections, despite his own party's endorsement of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
In a meeting with the national and regional task forces to end the local communist armed conflict in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Duterte reiterated he would remain "neutral."
"I am not supporting any presidential candidate. Neutral ako (I'm neutral)," Duterte said.
"So this is not a campaign because I'm not campaigning for a particular candidate. So stop f------ with me dahil hindi ito politika (this is not politics)," he added.
Duterte sits as the party chairman of a PDP-Laban faction led by Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi which earlier endorsed the candidacy of the late dictator's son.
Last week, Duterte's longtime aide Senator Bong Go and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar confirmed that the President had a "cordial and productive meeting" with Marcos.
However, Duterte on Tuesday, March 29, noted that his meeting with candidates for the 2022 elections does not mean anything special as it is just part of being a politician.
Since the start of the campaign season, Duterte has remained firm in his stance to remain neutral as regards the presidential race.
He has adopted a hands-off stance even as his daughter, vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, is running with Marcos who he called “spoiled” and a "weak leader."