Palace: Duterte still without a favored presidential bet

President Rodrigo Duterte remains without a presidential candidate to support in Eleksyon 2022, his spokesman said on Wednesday.

Secretary Martin Andanar made the remark at a news briefing days after he said he wanted someone with compassion and preferably a lawyer to succeed him as president.

“On the president’s part, PRRD remains to support no one in the presidential race unless there is a compelling reason,”  Andanar said at the Palace briefing.

Andanar was asked for the Palace's reaction after Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, PDP-Laban vice president for Visayas, pushed for the presidential candidacy Vice President Leni Robredo, the standard bearer of the opposition.

Evardone cited Duterte's remarks in an interview that he preferred that a lawyer be elected in Eleksyon 2022.

Only Robredo and Jose Montemayor, Jr. are lawyers among the ten presidential candidates.

For Evardone, Robredo is fit to become president as she is determined and forceful in addressing present issues such as rising inflation and the increasing fuel prices, adding that she has compassion for the poor.

“That is the personal choice of my good friend Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone at hindi po natin tiyak kung iyan po ang official stand ng PDP Laban and the officers of the PDP Laban,” Andanar said.

(We are not sure if that is the official stand of the PDP Laban and its officers.) —NB, GMA News