It is the decision of the PDP-Laban faction, led by Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi, as a party, not of President Rodrigo Duterte, to endorse the presidential bid of former senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. in the upcoming polls, Malacañang clarified.
During a media briefing, acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said it remains unclear if the President also shares the same decision to support the candidacy of Marcos Jr.
"The President himself has not given any statement if he is supporting or not this [candidate for] president. Hintayin natin ano ang personal niyang desisyon, at again, 'yong desisyon ng PDP-Laban Cusi wing ay base sa napag-usapan ng partido," Andanar said.
"Ito ay malinaw na desisyon ng partido pero hindi malinaw kung ito rin ang gusto ni Pangulong Duterte," he added.
In a resolution, Cusi said Marcos is the candidate whose platform is "most aligned with the development program" of the current administration.
"He is the candidate whose vision of governance is most aligned with PDP-Laban's 11-point agenda," the party said in its resolution.
The decision was also welcomed by the camp of the presidential frontrunner, saying that the endorsement has challenged them "to be even more prepared and vigilant" amid the rumors of possible poll fraud in the May 9 polls.
Duterte has repeatedly said in the past that he will not make an endorsement for the position unless he needs to do so.
However, in his recent interview, the President said he would likely prefer his successor to be a compassionate and decisive lawyer.
"Ako nagsabi it’s the best quality, but one of the good qualities of a president, sana abogado (hopefully a lawyer),” the President said.
"Isang tingin mo lang maka-decide ka na kaagad, and the repercussions, alam mo na kung ano. Whatever kind of—how would you say—issue or alam mo yan," he added.
Among the 10 presidential aspirants in the May elections, only Vice President Leni Robredo and Jose Montemayor, Jr. are lawyers.
