ENDORSEMENT. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shows the indelible ink on his finger after casting his vote for the 2022 National and Local Elections at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School in Davao City on Monday (May 9, 2022). Political analyst Froilan Calilung said Duterte's decision not to endorse any presidential aspirant turned to the advantage of candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Presidential photo by Toto Lozano) MANILA - The decision of President Rodrigo Duterte not to endorse any presidential aspirant in the national elections turned to former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s advantage, a political analyst said Monday. Dr. Froilan Calilung, who teaches political science in the University of Sto. Tomas (UST), believes that Duterte's silence over his preferred presidential candidate benefited Marcos because this would free the former senator of being linked to the current administration's shortcomings. "Yung hindi p
(File photo) MANILA - Presidential aspirant and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has maintained a large lead in the presidential race polls because of his "simple" pitch for unity, a political analyst said Monday. In an interview over PTV-4, Dr. Froilan Calilung, who teaches political science at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), explained that this year's elections have deepened the nation's divide. "Right now, our countrymen are sick and tired already of the divisiveness that has played Philippine politics for a very, very long time already. In the midst of this, pumasok naman yung mensahe nung kabilang kampo na pagkakaisa (they entered the message of unity)," he said. Calilung acknowledged although such motherhood statements failed to spell out Marcos' clear platforms, Filipinos are easily persuaded by motherhood statements of unification because they are easy to digest. "Maaring hindi nga po klaro sa atin ano ba talaga