President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to unmask the “most corrupt” candidates running for the country’s top position “in due time” as he raised arguments against at least four presidential aspirants without naming them.
In his public address aired Tuesday, Duterte said it is his job to tell the truth based on the information that he has received.
“In due time, I will personally name the candidates – maybe what is wrong with them. The people need to know because you are electing a president,” he said.
“I will tell you who is the most corrupt candidate. I am not politicking. I am talking to you as your president. There are things you must know,” he added.
Without naming the presidential aspirant, Duterte said there is one candidate who claims to be unblemished, but businessmen, including the Chinese, who have had official transactions with the candidate are complaining of too much corruption.
The President said another presidential aspirant was a drunkard who would hurl invectives and insults at his people.
Yet another candidate, Duterte said, has a “negative issue” which he did not elaborate.
“If this becomes president, I will be forced to speak up. If you listen to me that is fine. If you don’t listen to me, that is also fine. Nothing is at stake for me,” he said.
Another presidential bet, Duterte said, was “hopelessly” running to succeed him.
“This one should not be president because this one is still lacking, very lacking, for the job. Everyday, this candidate says something wrong,” he said.
Duterte’s party, the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, has yet to declare support for any presidential candidate even as it adopted Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, as its vice presidential bet.
Among the presidential contenders, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has openly sought the endorsement of Duterte.
The President earlier ruled out the possibility of supporting former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is running in tandem with his daughter, Duterte-Carpio.
“I am not impressed with him. He’s really a weak leader,” the President said. “I do not malign anyone, he is really weak because he was a spoiled child, [an] only son. Of course, he can talk, he delivers English articulately because he studied in several places abroad. But if you say there is a crisis, he’s a weak leader and he has baggage.”
