Panelo denies Duterte asked public to back Freddie Aguilar's Senate bid

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday denied that President Rodrigo Duterte pitched for votes for musician Freddie Aguilar who is running for the Senate in the 2019 midterm elections.

Panelo issued the statement even though the Palace video of Monday's Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange inauguration and official transcript showed otherwise.  

During the event, Duterte urged the public to consider voting for Aguilar, calling him an "exemplary nationalist guy" whose songs "carry a social message." The President later raised Aguilar's hand and said, "Vote for Freddie Aguilar."

"He was just expressing his opinion on the qualification of the person," Panelo said at a news conference when asked if the President's pronouncements could be considered premature campaigning. "Hindi naman niya sinabing iboto ninyo ito. Ang sinasabi niya lang, the messages of the songs of [Freddie Aguilar] have social content at magaling siya, brilliant."

When reporters read out excerpts of the President's remarks, Panelo responded that Duterte "may not be referring to an election."

"He may be referring to you people vote for this man as an outstanding man," Panelo said.

'Vote for Freddie Aguilar'

Hours after the press conference, Panelo disputed news reports about his statements.

"Contrary to news reports, the Palace did not retract the President’s expression of support for Mr. Freddie Aguilar. As earlier said, PDP-Laban has not come up with a full slate of candidates for the Senate yet," Panelo said in a statement.

"Hence, the President may still manifest his support in favor of aspiring senators outside his political party whom he deems fit and qualified."

Panelo said that the President made a statement backing Aguilar on his bid "by acknowledging the latter's brilliance and nationalism."

"President Duterte said that he believes in the man’s capability in helping the country. We stand by this pronouncement," he said.

"A question was, however, asked with regard to the President’s statement being a form of premature campaigning. To this, we responded in the negative, explaining that the President was not referring to elections. This is because the [election] period therefore will only start on January 13, 2019," he added.

At Monday's event, Duterte had said, "Tulungan natin si Freddie because he is one exemplary nationalist guy," adding that maybe Aguilar could "relate or translate his songs in Congress."

Duterte also raised the singer's right hand and said, "Vote for Freddie Aguilar."

A Supreme Court decision laid down in November 2009 effectively declared that premature campaigning is no longer considered as an offense because a person cannot be treated as a candidate until the campaign period.

Aguilar was among the first to file his candidacy papers last month for senator supposedly under the ruling PDP-Laban party.

The ruling party, however, denied that the music icon was part of its senatorial line-up. —KBK/NB/BM, GMA News