MANILA – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has expressed hope that his successor is someone who is “compassionate and decisive.”

“First, the president should be a compassionate one, ‘yung para sa tao talaga (He should be pro-people),” he said in a prerecorded exclusive interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy aired Saturday on SMNI. “Second, you must be decisive.”

Apart from the two qualities Duterte cited, he said the next president should be someone who served as a “mayor” and a lawyer like him.

He added that his successor should be competent enough to address several issues confronting the country, including the Philippines’ South China Sea (SCS) disputes with China.

“You should be prepared to tackle each and every problem,” Duterte said. “Isang tingin mo lang maka-decide ka na kaagad, and the repercussions, alam mo na kung ano (You should know how to make a prompt decision and the possible repercussions of your [actions]).”

The 10 candidates seeking the country’s top post are Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, former presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, former national security adviser Norberto Gonzales, labor leader Leody de Guzman, Lanao del Sur businessman Faisal Mangondato, and Dr. Jose Montemayor Jr.

Of the 10 presidential hopefuls, Moreno currently serves as Manila City mayor, while Robredo and Montemayor are both lawyers.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, also acting presidential spokesperson, earlier said Duterte might support or endorse a presidential aspirant whose name contains the letter “O.”

Andanar later clarified that his recent statement was merely based on his instincts.

Duterte, who earlier backed the presidential bid of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go who later withdrew, has yet to endorse any presidential candidate.

Quizzed if he expects the May 9, 2022 national and local elections to be clean and honest, Duterte said: “I cannot guarantee you that it will be peaceful.”

He, however, maintained that he would not allow any election-related violence. (PNA)