President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night called on Filipinos to rally behind his successor, President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., amid the daunting challenges the incoming administration will face.
“President-elect Marcos would need the cooperation and help of everybody. We must give it to him. That’s democracy. That is how we operate,” Duterte said in his televised Talk to the People.
“We must all be united in confronting the issues ahead of us. We have no room for politicking or actions that are divisive to the country. The people have spoken—we already have our leader.”
“Once the people have spoken as to the leader they want, we should follow. We should avoid politicking. We rally behind the elected leaders of our country. That is how our form of government works,” he added.
Duterte earlier formed the Presidential Transition Team, headed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, to ensure a smooth transition ahead of Marcos’ inauguration on June 30.
Medialdea said his team already met his possible successor, Vic Rodriguez.
Duterte, who will end his six-year term in less than a month, said he has chosen to keep his peace as he urged Filipinos to refrain from politicking.
“As for me, I am done. I will say nothing,” he said.
“What I do not want is if there are people who would resort to politicking or just plain criticize the new administration. You do not do that,” the President added.