By Genalyn Kabiling
President Duterte is expected to hit the campaign trail to rally support for administration candidates in the 2019 elections.
President Rodrigo Duterte (Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN)
The President said he would campaign for his candidates in the polls but assured the public that government resources would not be used during the political activity.
"Of course I will campaign for my candidates. Eh wala pa naman akong slate so hanggang dyan lang tayo ," Duterte said during the Philippine Army change of command ceremony in Taguig City last Monday.
"Iyong mga kandidato ko, ako lang because this is a political position ," he added.
The President also maintained that "nobody can use government resources" during the campaign, not even his former aide Christoper Go who was running for senator. "I will not allow it," he added.
He has also ordered the the military, the police, and other uniformed personnel to remain “neutral" during the elections. He told them "not to indulge in partisan politics.”
In a Palace press briefing Tuesday, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President has the right to endorse candidates in the elections.
"You must remember that the President, as a citizen of this country, has the right to endorse and to make a choice kung sinong tutulungan niya," he said.
Asked if the President would join major campaign rallies of administration bets, Panelo said: "Based on previous experiences, hindi ba ang Presidente noong mga nakaraang eh sumasama sa mga major rallies. Hindi ko lang alam kung ganoon din ang gagawin ni Presidente ."
The President accompanied his assistant Go to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) where he filed his certificate of candidacy for senator last Monday. Duterte has yet to name Go’s replacement.
Cabinet Secetary Leoncio Evasco Jr. has also resigned to run for governor in Bohol.
Other Cabinet secretaries expected to run in the 2019 polls are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano, Presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, and former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.
Except for Ambassador Teodoro Locsin Jr. as the new Foreign Affairs Secretary, Panelo said the President has yet to announce the replacements for other Cabinet members who were expected to resign to pursue their political plans.
But he said officers-in-charge would temporarily assume leadership of the departments vacated by these Cabinet members.
President Rodrigo Duterte (Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN)
The President said he would campaign for his candidates in the polls but assured the public that government resources would not be used during the political activity.
"Of course I will campaign for my candidates. Eh wala pa naman akong slate so hanggang dyan lang tayo ," Duterte said during the Philippine Army change of command ceremony in Taguig City last Monday.
"Iyong mga kandidato ko, ako lang because this is a political position ," he added.
The President also maintained that "nobody can use government resources" during the campaign, not even his former aide Christoper Go who was running for senator. "I will not allow it," he added.
He has also ordered the the military, the police, and other uniformed personnel to remain “neutral" during the elections. He told them "not to indulge in partisan politics.”
In a Palace press briefing Tuesday, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President has the right to endorse candidates in the elections.
"You must remember that the President, as a citizen of this country, has the right to endorse and to make a choice kung sinong tutulungan niya," he said.
Asked if the President would join major campaign rallies of administration bets, Panelo said: "Based on previous experiences, hindi ba ang Presidente noong mga nakaraang eh sumasama sa mga major rallies. Hindi ko lang alam kung ganoon din ang gagawin ni Presidente ."
The President accompanied his assistant Go to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) where he filed his certificate of candidacy for senator last Monday. Duterte has yet to name Go’s replacement.
Cabinet Secetary Leoncio Evasco Jr. has also resigned to run for governor in Bohol.
Other Cabinet secretaries expected to run in the 2019 polls are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano, Presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, and former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.
Except for Ambassador Teodoro Locsin Jr. as the new Foreign Affairs Secretary, Panelo said the President has yet to announce the replacements for other Cabinet members who were expected to resign to pursue their political plans.
But he said officers-in-charge would temporarily assume leadership of the departments vacated by these Cabinet members.