MANILA - Malacañang on Thursday said not all voters may be looking at honesty as an important qualification in choosing their candidates in the elections, as it addressed the statement of the President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter that honesty should not be made an issue in the elections.

“As a voter, I have to exercise my own judgment whether honesty will be a part of my choice,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace press briefing Thursday.

“Kasi, bakit may nahahalal na hindi honest? Ibig sabihin maraming hindi kinoconsider ang honesty. Depende sa botante siguro iyon,” he added.

(Why so many who are dishonest get elected? That means many do not consider honesty. It really depends on the voter.)

Panelo said he will also ask President Duterte’s position on the statement of Sara Duterte-Carpio, as he stressed that the Davao City Mayor and Hugpong ng Pagbabago chairperson was "entitled to her opinion; it’s a free country.”

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Wednesday said most candidates lie anyway, and that “honesty should not be made an issue now.”

“All of them lie. Everyone in this world is a liar,” Duterte-Carpio said, as she accused Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano of spreading fake news against senatorial bet Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who is running under HNP.

In the course of her interview, Duterte-Carpio also brought up the issue involving Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, who is accused of being dishonest about her educational records.

“Ang dami-dami nilang sinasabi about the administration which are untrue,” Duterte-Carpio said of the opposition candidates.

“That also reflects on their honesty and credibility. So ano ng gagawin natin sa kanila? Kasi sinasabi nila the issue is not about college degree but honesty.”

The older Duterte has repeatedly vowed clean and honest elections, saying no government resources will be used for the campaign of administration-backed candidates.

Duterte has also described former police and bureau corrections chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as “fundamentally honest.”