President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — File photo
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said it is still too early to discuss whom he will endorse in the 2028 elections but noted that he will back a candidate who will continue his administration’s anti-corruption drive.
This remark came after Marcos was asked whether he would back a candidate to face Vice President Sara Duterte in the upcoming polls. Duterte previously announced her intent to run for president in the next elections.
“I will certainly endorse a candidate in the 2028 elections. It’s a little early for that. And we don’t know. We only have that so far. We have only one person who has put their hat in the ring. So, that’s a very, very early one in the process,” he responded during the question and answer portion of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines Presidential Luncheon in Diamond Hotel Manila.
Article continues after this advertisement
“I will endorse somebody who I am confident will continue what we have begun in terms of the anti-corruption push,” he also said.
READ: Palace warns of ‘mind conditioning’ amid 2028 survey results
Marcos said his political party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, will form alliances with other parties, with the eventual shape of the coalition to be determined through negotiations.
Meanwhile, he described as “interesting” recent survey results that show who among hypothetical candidates leads the 2028 elections, including Duterte and Naga City Mayor Lenie Robredo.
“Well, they’re interesting, but I don’t know how useful they are. Only because it’s far too early. And there are so many political events that are still going to happen between now and that time. And so, it’s very hard for me, for myself, to even make a decision,” Marcos said.
Article continues after this advertisement
“I haven’t sat down with anyone and said, ‘Do you want to run for president or not?’ But no, we’ve never come anywhere near that. So the time will come and we will provide at least from a from a very partisan point of view, we will certainly provide the best candidate for the betterment of the lives of every Filipino,” he also said.
Not worried by survey numbers
Additionally, Marcos said he does not worry about survey results concerning his administration, saying he is focused on carrying out his duties as president.
Article continues after this advertisement
“I don’t really worry about surveys, to be honest with you. Because I see them, but it doesn’t make any difference to me. I don’t change my decision because of a survey. I don’t change direction because of a survey,” he said.
He added, “It does not determine the rightness or wrongness of what I’m trying to do or what my government is trying to do.”
Marcos clarified, however, that he still pays attention to survey results, saying it is natural for a politician to care about how people view their performance.
“You know, if our numbers aren’t good, I wish they were better. If our numbers were good, I wish they were greater. They would. That stays in my mind, maybe for a minute or two, and then I get on with work after that,” he said. /jpv
