Adviser to Duterte: Endorse Bongbong, he will protect you

Presidential adviser for political affairs Jacinto Paras on Wednesday called on President Rodrigo Duterte to endorse the candidacy of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for president, believing that the former senator would "protect" him against possible charges after his term.

During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay virtual forum, Paras said that “it’s about time” to endorse Marcos for Eleksyon 2022, following the support of the PDP-Laban faction of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

“Considering that the daughter of the President is the vice president, the tandem of Bongbong and Sara is really very strong. I’m sure Bongbong will remain a very loyal friend to the President,” Paras said.

“Historically, pagkatapos ng isang election at nagpalit na ng Pangulo, ‘yung dating Pangulo, normally ang daming trumped up charges against him like in the case of GMA (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo), in the case of Erap (Joseph Estrada).... I’m sure a lot of his enemies would come up with trumped up charges, especially they will try to push the ICC, the International Criminal Court cases,” he said.

“The President needs allies, especially from the new administration, I certainly believe that among the candidates, Bongbong Marcos would be the best who would be able to protect him,” he added.

The Duterte administration is facing possible ICC scrutiny on the government's alleged crimes against humanity in the context of the police's anti-drug operations.

The ICC probe, which was deferred in November 2021 based on the request of the Philippine government, stemmed from the complaint of the families of those killed in the drug war and human rights advocates.

Based on government records, over 6,000 drug suspects have been killed during the police's anti-drug operations since Duterte assumed office on June 30, 2016.

Paras said that it would be better if the next president would be a friend or an ally of Duterte to “lessen the burden of defending a trumped up case.” 

“I predict kasi, kung halimbawa ‘yung Leni ang manalo, which is not likely though, but she’s inching in in her campaign, if by any chance manalo ‘yung kalaban ng ating Pangulo, especially she is supported by the leftists, by the Reds and also by people like Trillanes, like Hontiveros who are very adverse to the President, I’m sure they will be pushing and pushing for this,” he said.

“They’ll create a mob that will demand that the President will be sent to the ICC, maski wala namang grounds (even if there are no grounds),” he added.

Robredo previously belied claims that she will form a coalition government with the CPP, the New People’s Army (NPA), and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF).

GMA News Online has reached out to Robredo’s camp for comment about the allegation of Paras.

Despite the Cusi-led PDP-Laban faction’s endorsement of Marcos, acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said on Tuesday that Duterte is not yet endorsing anybody for the 2022 presidential race.—LDF, GMA News