Philippines' Duterte stays mum over presidential candidate he said uses drugs

FILE PHOTO: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks at Villamor Air Base in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo

MANILA (Reuters) - The office of Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte declined to disclose the identity on Friday of an election candidate accused by the president of using cocaine, shifting the onus back to Duterte to name the individual himself.

Duterte, who waged a war on drugs that killed thousands of users and peddlers, on Thursday said a cocaine user was among the candidates seeking to succeed him next year, but did not name them, or cite evidence.