President Rodrigo Roa Duterte praised former Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) chairwoman Greco Belgica and House Deputy Speaker Rolando Marcoleta for their “excellent” track records as senatorial candidates. 

This comes after Duterte revealed that he was among those who persuaded Greco and Marcoleta to run in the May 9, 2022 senate election. 

On Saturday night’s President’s Chatroom, which broadcast on state-run PTV-4, Duterte expressed hope that the Filipino electorate would vote for Greco, whom he commended for his performance and anti-corruption actions while at the PACC. 

Greco promised Duterte during his one-on-one meeting that the outgoing administration’s policies and activities, notably the anti-narcotics campaign, would be continued.

Greco also promised to keep the country’s peace and order, strengthen the justice system, and revise the “passive” anti-corruption statute. 

Duterte stated that if Greco is elected to the Senate, he will be able to fulfill his commitment to fighting for legislation that will benefit the country.

“Just listening to you, if you can only achieve even a half of what you are telling us now, lalo na ‘yung pag-ano sa batas (especially on the laws, if) you strengthen it, you are, I said, you are on the right track. So, I am urging you to campaign hard. Paalamin natin ‘yung tao kung gaano ka ka-Pilipino na nag-mahal ng bayan (Let the public know how you love the country),” he said.

Duterte also promised to campaign for Belgica who is one of the “Lucky 7” senatorial candidates of the Chief Executive’s ruling party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

“I saw you work hard and I think, even if you just get half of what you’re getting, you will be good, I am sure, ‘pag umabot ka ng Senado(if you secure a Senate seat),” he told Belgica.

Meantime, Duterte admitted that he had started liking Marcoleta, who was also part of the PDP-Laban’s “Lucky 7” Senate bets, upon witnessing the latter’s dedication to running after oligarchs.

Duterte also backed Marcoleta for being the most vocal lawmaker opposing the franchise renewal of local media giant ABS-CBN Corp.

“I was very much impressed,” he told Marcoleta. “Hindi ka takot sa oligarchs. Hindi ka takot sa pera nila (You are not afraid of oligarchs. You are not afraid of what they could do using their money.”

He was likewise all praise for Marcoleta for being a “principled man, extremely honest and a [man] with integrity.”

“Iyan ang gusto ko, Manalo ka (What I want is you win). Use the passion that you have in your heart to work for the Filipino people lalo na ako, paalis na (especially that I’m about to step down from office),” Duterte said. 

Photo Credit: Reportr World