President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (File photo)
MANILA – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte may endorse or support a presidential candidate whose name contains the letter “O”, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, acting presidential spokesperson, said on Wednesday.
This was Andanar’s response when asked in an interview over PolitikoTV Channel if Duterte would support any candidate gunning for the presidency.
There are currently 10 candidates running for the position of president-- former presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, labor leader Leody de Guzman, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, former national security adviser Norberto Gonzales, Senator Ping Lacson, Lanao del Sur businessman Faisal Mangomdato, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Dr. Jose Montemayor Jr., Senator Manny Pacquiao, and Vice President Leni Robredo.
All presidential candidates contain the letter “O” in their names.
Asked to give a letter of a candidate Duterte would less likely to endorse or support, Andanar answered “U.”
Pacquiao and de Guzman are the only two presidential candidates whose names contain the letter “U.”
Andanar said Duterte is also likely to have no problems working with a presidential candidate whose name contains the letter “O.”
Earlier, Andanar reiterated that Duterte is not endorsing or supporting any presidential candidate at this time.
“The President has repeatedly said that he does not support any presidential candidate unless there is a compelling reason at kung maalala niyo po dun sa interview na ginawa natin (and if you remember in our interview) with the President, he clearly said he may or may not,” he said in a Palace press briefing on Tuesday.
Andanar said it is best to wait for the President to make a final decision on whether or not he would endorse any presidential candidate.
Duterte earlier backed the presidential bid of Senator Bong Go, but the latter withdrew his candidacy saying his heart and mind contradicted his actions.
His daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is running for vice president with Marcos as her running mate. (PNA)
