Duterte to voters: Don't go for brilliant candidates; ordinary-minded is better

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday urged voters in Eleksyon 2022 to not go for smart candidates, claiming that "ordinary-minded" candidates are better.

"Why don't you get... Kasi masyadong, huwag kayo kumuha ng bright, mga brilliant. You know what?" Duterte said during his Talk to the People.

"Maghanap kayo ng kandidato na ordinaryong Filipino. Bigyan ninyo ng panahon at ipakita niya," he added.

He said the Filipinos were  "better off with ordinary-minded Filipinos."

Duterte made the remarks after he again criticized  Senator Richard Gordon and other senators over the Senate investigation that tackled the "overpriced" Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation supply to the government.

He expressed frustration that his Cabinet men were invited in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe amid the pandemic.Gordon urged Filipino voters not to vote for the lawmakers involved in the inquiry.

"Matagal na rin 'yan sila. Halos kaedad ko yan e may diperensya lang ng five years. Palitan ninyo na sila. Napakita na nila ang talent nila, hanggang diyan lang sila," Dutere said.

Likewise, he also endorsed his long-time aide Senator Bong Go's bid for vice presidency.

"With my withdrawal, Senator Bong Go had taken the challenge to become the vice presidential candidate of PDP Laban," Duterte said.

"I strongly believe that Senator Bong Go is the best person to help the next President to continue my legacy," he added.

In his recent announcement that he will retire from politics, Duterte hoped that his successor will continue his "legacy" in fighting illegal drugs, corruption and terrorism, among others.

"I encourage our kababayans to look at his deeds and achievements as you consider your list of candidates for the next President, vice president rather," Duterte said.

He accompanied Go on Saturday during the latter's filing of COC for vice presidency in Pasay.

Duterte  announced his retirement from politics and indicated that he was pushing for  the tandem of his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Go in next year's polls.

But Sara only responded "no comment" to the media regarding her father's statement of her running for the presidency.

NPA shouldn't meddle with elections

At one point in his speech, Duterte said the communist rebels New People's Army must not meddle with the elections.

He issued the warning after he vowed that he will not allow fraud in next year's elections before he steps down as president.

"At ako, paalis na, I am warning everybody, everybody, kasama ako sa partido o hindi kaibigan kita o hindi, kalaban kita itong election na ito. Huwag kang magkamali kasi nandyan pa ako,," Duterte said.

"Of course, the Supreme Court body during elections or Comelec. I will just coordinate with the Comelec, I will not allow fraud tapos yung tigas tigas may mga ano diyan lalo yung matagal sa pulitika, political warlords na may armas. kapag ganun ang gawan mo you terrorize the," he added.

"Pati kayong mga NPA wag kayong sumali, you are fighting another cause, it is a losing one. 'Wag kayong makialam sa election at saka yung drug money," Duterte said. -NB, GMA News