President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly said he would not endorse a successor.


CLAIM: Duterte prefers Bongbong Marcos as his successor.

RATING: False


Pro-Marcos user @itswillclemens manipulated a 2016 video to make it appear that President Rodrigo Duterte was supporting the presidential bid of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The TikTok video is one of similar manipulated clips posted across different social media platforms by pro-Marcos users. The “Uniteam Bbm-Sara” Facebook page posted the same video with a different superimposed caption and drew 3.2 million views.

The videos are misleading. That Duterte speech was delivered in February 2016, before he became president and before the elections were held.

Duterte won the 2016 presidential election, while Marcos lost to now-Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo.

“Sabi nila, masyadong ambitious ang timeline ko as president at hindi ko kaya, walang maniwala sakin,” Duterte said in the video.

“Even if you give me 10 years of rule, ‘di ko talaga kaya. E mabuti, magsibat na lang kayo or ako. Kung ‘di ko magawa iyan, bigyan mo ako ng sampung libong taon, hindi ko talaga kaya, ibigay ko na lang kay Bongbong,” Duterte continued.

The TikTok user superimposed the sentences, “PRRD suports Bongbong Marcos!” and “Malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw ang Panalo ng Uniteam.”

However, the president has consistently said he would not endorse a presidential candidate.

“You better disabuse your minds about getting into guesses and assumptions. Wala. Wala akong kandidato pagka-presidente ngayon hanggang Disyembre,” Duterte said in a “Talk to the People” address that aired on May 3.

Duterte said he had even told his Cabinet members to keep their picks in the 2022 elections private.

“Kung may kandidato ka, just keep it to yourself and vote. But let us avoid endorsing any candidates so that there will be no second guesses or implications that we are supporting this candidate or that candidate,” the president said.

Duterte said he was trying to “avoid politicking” to steer clear of election violations, pointing out that he was still in charge of public funds.

However, he has endorsed the vice-presidential bid of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is running alongside Marcos whom he had called a “weak leader.”

Marcos and Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo are the frontrunners in the race to succeed Duterte, according to surveys.

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