Malcañang said Wednesday President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of a potential successor could be a “game changer” as presidential candidates seek additional support ahead of the May 9 elections.
With only three months until he steps down from office after a six-year term, acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said Duterte still enjoyed broad public support, which allows him to avoid lame-duck status.
“Clearly, the President is no lame-duck President. As I said before, clearly the endorsement of the President is not a kiss of death for any presidentiable,” Andanar said at a news conference.
At least two presidential bets—Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso—have appeared hopeful they would win Duterte’s endorsement.
The PDP-Laban faction allied with Duterte has already backed Marcos, who recently met with the President to discuss several matters, including Duterte’s experience in running the country.
The 64-year-old Marcos is running with Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, under the UniTeam slate.
Duterte is set to visit vote-rich Cebu province today (Thursday) to receive updates on the government’s peace and development initiatives in Central Visayas as well as attend a PDP-Laban campaign rally.
But while Duterte has yet to announce his preferred presidential candidate, Malacanang said he would join the PDP-Laban party in campaign sorties starting today.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary and PDP-Laban secretary general Melvin Matibag said the event in Cebu would be the President’s first public appearance to endorse the candidates of the ruling party.
He said Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu was one of the most vote-rich provinces based on Commission on Elections data.
“We are planning probably more or less 24 more areas that the President will appear (in) to endorse the senatorial candidates of PDP-Laban and also those candidates who are being endorsed and adopted by PDP-Laban, and the local candidates as well,” Matibag added.