President Rodrigo Duterte has supported House Deputy Speaker Rolando Marcoleta and former Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chief Greco Belgica for Senate seats.

In a rare televised face-to-face, the President acted as a “interviewer,” picking the brains of Marcoleta and Belgica in the “President’s Chatroom” show on state-run PTV-4 Saturday night.

Duterte expressed confidence that Belgium will continue his administration’s anti-corruption fight, highlighting his commitment to improving the country’s “passive” anti-corruption law as well as to solving issues in the court system.

“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 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), Duterte spoke to Belgica, one of his “Lucky 7” senatorial candidates for the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino—Lakas ng Bayan.

“I saw you work hard and I think you will be good, I am sure, ‘pag umabot ka ng Senado (if you secure a Senate seat),” Duterte stated to Belgica.

Duterte complimented Marcoleta for his honesty and for standing up to the country’s oligarchs. Marcoleta was one of the congressmen that campaigned tirelessly to oppose ABS- CBN.

“I was very much impressed. 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),” Duterte stated.

The President advised Marcoleta to “use the passion that you have in your heart to work for the Filipino people, lalo na ako, paalis na (especially now that I’m about to step down from office).” Among the “meaningful legislation” Marcoleta promised to pursue in the Senate are measures to ensure the country’s sustained post-pandemic recovery.