PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he will endorse a candidate to succeed him in the 2028 presidential elections.
Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines Presidential Luncheon in Manila on Friday, Marcos said he is certain that he will endorse a candidate, but stressed it is far too early to make a decision.
“Who that is, I cannot tell you because even I don’t know... It’s a little early for that,” he said.
He also confirmed that his party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, will forge coalitions with other political groups in preparation for the elections.
Marcos said he has not had formal discussions with prospective presidential contenders, but added that the person he will endorse in the 2028 presidential race will be someone who will continue the investigation of corruption-tainted flood control projects.
“We will choose the best possible candidate. We will continue what we have started, and we will bring even new and hopefully even better initiatives to the development of our country,” Marcos said.
Responding to political surveys showing Vice President Sara Duterte remains the top presidential contender, Marcos said the poll results do not affect his administration’s governance or long-term political strategy.
“I don’t really worry about surveys. I don’t, I don’t really,” he declared.
He explained that he makes decisions based on what he feels is the right course of action, adopting policies because he believes they are the best available.
Moreover, opinion surveys do not determine the rightness or wrongness of what he is trying to achieve, the president said.
Marcos said poll numbers occupy his thoughts for “maybe a minute or two,” reiterating that many political developments will still unfold between now and 2028.
