No Comelec rules hindering Duterte from endorsing presidential bet —Jimenez

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has no rules hindering President Rodrigo Duterte from endorsing a presidential candidate, poll spokesperson James Jimenez said Thursday.

At a press conference, Jimenez said the Comelec and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) only prohibited public officials from using government resources for campaigning.

“Well, to be honest, wala (nothing) kasi under our rules and civil service regulations, political officials, political officers, are actually given a lot of leeway sa pag-e-endorso ng mga kandidato (to endorse bets),” he said.

For Jimenez, Duterte has been refusing to make an endorsement for a presidential candidate because this is part of his leadership style.

“I think in the case of the President, it's a question of his leadership kasi, of his leadership style, I guess kasi ayaw niyang mag-endorso (because he doesn’t want to endorse). That is entirely up to him,” he added.

Duterte reiterated that he is not supporting any candidate except for her daughter vice presidential bet and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who is running alongside presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

He said he would not support any presidential candidate unless he saw what he called "a compelling reason." Earlier, Duterte said the next president should be compassionate and a lawyer like him.—AOL, GMA News