Marcos on endorsements for 2028 polls: Not soon, timing's everything

''Not soon.''

This was the response of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. when asked if he would endorse his possible successor. 

''Timing is everything,'' the President said during the ASEAN Editors and Economic Opinion Leaders Forum: Fireside Chat "Tapping the Philippines Dynamic Growth Story."

Marcos, however, admitted that his camp is already talking to individuals who could run as president in the 2028 national elections. 

''We have some people that we are talking to... some of them [said], 'No, I do not want...''' he said. 

Next leader

In the same forum, Marcos was asked for his thoughts about what should be the characteristics of the next Philippine president. He said a knowledge of economics is important as this will ensure that the next leader could create jobs for Filipinos and bring food to their tables. 

''Number one, somebody who understands economics because that's the first thing, that's the life of the person who understands how to create jobs, who understands how to keep the inflation rate down, who understands how to make food supply a given, something that you can assume,'' the President said.

''Somebody who thinks about productivity because growth is about productivity, how do you make your working population more productive? How do you support them so they work better? How do you fix the education system so they are better trained? How do you make sure that they're healthier? How do you make sure that they don't worry about food?'' he added. 

Marcos also said the next president should not be thinking about politics but on how to make the Philippines a better nation.

''Those are the kind of people that we need, the people who are actually thinking about not politics, but how to make the country better. We need to have nation builders, people who want to make the Philippines better, people who actually love the Philippines and love Filipinos and want to make things better. It boils down to it,'' he said. 

Still, Marcos said his successor should have trainings or someone who knows how to listen to people with acquired trainings. 

Vice President Sara Duterte, former running mate of Marcos in the 2022 polls, announced that she would run for president in the 2028 elections. She even apologized to the public for ''helping'' Marcos get elected into presidency. 

The relationship between the two had since soured. 

Marcos refused to comment on Duterte's presidential bid but wished her good luck. —AOL,GMA Integrated News