Malaca帽ang cannot say for certain if President Rodrigo Duterte will release a list of senatorial candidates he will endorse in the May 2019 elections.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he only knew for certain that the President had already publicly endorsed the candidacies of his former special assistant Christopher 鈥淏ong鈥� Go, his former political adviser Francis Tolentino and former Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald dela Rosa.
鈥淣one that I know of, as of this time鈥� I have not received the [information] yet,鈥� Panelo said, when asked if Mr. Duterte would name his candidates in the reported 鈥淒u It鈥� list.
A media report claimed that the President鈥檚 list included 10 to 11 candidates.
Panelo said the President may be holding back because the campaign period would not start until Feb. 12.
Go, Tolentino, Dela Rosa
In his public appearances, the President has repeatedly called on the public to vote for Go, Tolentino and Dela Rosa.
鈥淲hat I know is he is endorsing them, every time he has an opportunity to do so,鈥� he said.
Panelo also could not say if the President would adopt the candidates endorsed by the administration party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan and Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the regional party of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
鈥淚t鈥檚 his call, depending on what he wants鈥� It鈥檚 the logical consequence (to carry his party鈥檚 slate), but this President is someone you cannot predict,鈥� Panelo added. 鈥�Julie M. Aurelio