MANILA, Philippines – Coco Martin said that for the 2016 elections, he will be very careful about publicly endorsing any candidates. 

In a press conference for his upcoming show Ang Probinsyano, Thursday, August 27, Coco said that there have been some people approaching him and sending feelers about the matter. However, he said is treading carefully when it comes to choosing the person he’ll support in 2016.  (READ: Coco Martin to star in TV remake of FPJ film ‘Ang Probinsyano’)

Coco on choosing who to help in 2016. pic.twitter.com/tRx9771OBg

— alexa villano (@alexavillano) August 27, 2015

“Kumbaga lahat naman tayo naghahanap ng pagbabago – hindi para sa ating sarili, kung hindi para sa ating mga magiging anak, sa ating mga pamilya or sa lipunan natin. Ang importante itong pagkakataong ito na kung saka-sakali next year’s elections, ito lang ang pagkakataon na mahahawakan ko ang sarili kong pananaw…kasi after pag naboto ko na sila, wala na.

“Kumbaga, sila lang naman ang maghahari, gagawin nila yung gusto nilang mangyari. Sabi ko ngayon this time, mas magiging mahigpit ako sa mga taong tutulungan ko or paniniwalaan ko. Kasi nakakapagod eh. Nakakasawa, parang may mga taong tinulungan mo tapos magugulat ka na ganun pala yung mangyayari,” he said. 

(In other words, we are all looking for change, not for us but for our future children, our families or for the country. What’s important is this is the time in next year’s elections, well, this is the only time I will be able to keep my views for myself…because after you vote for that person, that’s it.

They will be in power and do what they want to achieve. So this time, I told myself, I will be more strict with the people I’ll be helping or believe in. Because it’s exhausting. It’s frustrating when there are some people you help, and then some things happen.) 

“Mas mag-iisip, mas babantayan yung mga kilos, mas kikilalanin natin yung mga tao na tutulungan natin,” he added.

(We will think about, we will be more observant of the actions and really get to know those we will help.)

According to Coco, if ever he does help a candidate in 2016, he wants the person to go beyond the promise, saying if he had his way, those who will be in power will be a new set of faces.

Proud 

He said that there are leaders like President Benigno Aquino III that he is proud to have supported because he saw changes.

“As a leader, hindi dahil sa isa ako sa mga tumulong sa kanya, kung hindi dahil nakita ko talaga na hindi ako nagsisi na tumulong sa kanya dahil nakita ko na gusto niya maging maayos ang ating bansa.

“Maaring hindi perpekto sa ating paningin, maari na marami tayong mag komento pero para sa akin masasabi ko na hindi siya corrupt, hindi siya naging corrupt at ginawa niya yung best para sa ating bansa,” he said. 

(As a leader, and it’s not just because I helped him – I didn’t regret helping him because I saw that he really wants to improve the country. In our view, he might not be perfect, we might have plenty of comments, but for me, I can say that he is not corrupt, did not become corrupt, and he did his best for our country.) 

When asked whether he regrets endorsing anybody back in 2010, he said:

“Meron iba, pero sabi ko nga, siguro sa pagkakataong ito, medyo talagang magiging mahigpit ka na….Pero may mga talagang tinulugan ako na proud ako like si Senator [Sonny] Angara, sobrang proud na proud ako,” he said. 

(There are a few, but I said, this time, I’ll be more strict…but there are some I helped that I’m very proud of, like Senator Angara, I’m very proud.) 

No political agenda, no to politics

Coco also clarified that there is no political agenda in his doing the show. The late Fernando Poe Jr. starred in a film version of Ang Probinsyano, released in 1997. 

“Wala po. Actually sinabi ko nga po, bago pa po namin umpisahan ito, klinaro namin lahat. Nagkataon lang po talaga na ngayon taon ito gagawin and by next year, magkakaroon ng election,” he said. (IN PHOTOS: Susan Roces, Grace Poe lead star-studded FPJ tribute movie screening)

(No, Actually as I said, before we started on the project, we clarified everything. It just so happens that we are doing the show this year and by next year, the elections will happen.)

He also took the opportunity to explain that he is not currently endorsing FPJ’s daughter Senator Grace Poe, who is scoring high in surveys – and Grace has yet to announce if she will run for a higher position. 

“Honestly po hindi. Para sa akin lang po yon. Nagkataon lang po na nagkaroon kami ng proyekto sa nalalapit na halalan. Pero para sabihin an iniendorse, hindi pa po, kasi napakaaga pa po para magsalita ng mga ganon. Kahit naman po si ate Grace, hindi pa po siya nagdedeclare or hindi pa siya nagsasabi kung tatakbo siya o hindi,” he said.

(Honestly, no. That’s just me. It was just coincidental that we are doing the project and the elections are approaching. But to say that I am endorsing, definitely not, because it’s very early to even say anything. Even Grace, she has not declared or said anything, if she will run or not.) 

Coco also said he does not see himself entering politics in the future.

“Honestly po ang layo po eh. Hindi ko talaga gusto. Sabi ko nga ang bawa’t tao may destiny, and para po sa akin itong trabaho ko, dito po talaga ako tinahak ng Diyos and siguro yung politika para sa ibang tao po talaga.”

(Honestly no. I really don’t want it. As I said, every person has a destiny and I think my job right now, this is where God wants me to be. Politics I guess is for other people.) – Rappler.com