Duterte to draw up list of senatorial bets

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night laid down the characteristic he is looking for in senatorial candidates to endorse in the May 2019 midterm elections.

"I'll come up with a list. I will not choose candidates who are crooks. I can assure you of that," Duterte said in a speech in Cebuano before land reform beneficiaries in Cagayan de Oro City.

Duterte added he can only recommend to the public who to vote for.

"Kung hindi niyo tatanggapin, bahala kayo," he said. 

The President has been vocal about pitching for public support for former Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go. He even accompanied Go in filing his candidacy papers for senator at the Commission on Elections' main office in Manila on October 15.

Duterte, in his speech, vouched anew for Go's credentials, saying the latter is knowledgeable about the nitty gritty of governance.

Duterte said last month that he is committed to have a clean and honest 2019 elections which will also serve as a referendum on the first three years of his mandated six-year presidency. — BAP, GMA News