MANILA - The Singapore government has denied claims spreading online that its Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has endorsed a Philippine presidential candidate.

Singapore Embassy Manila said in a Facebook post Friday that any report of endorsement is "untrue."

"Embassy has learned of a FB post mischievously alleging that the Prime Minister of Singapore endorses a presidential candidate for the upcoming presidential election in the Philippines. This is untrue," the embassy said.

This comes amid photos of Lee with caption "Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is the only presidential candidate that could make Philippines like Singapore" spread online.

"Singapore does not endorse any candidate. The choice is for Filipinos alone to make. We wish the Philippines well in the conduct of its elections," the embassy added.

This is not the first time an organization denied a supposed endorsement for the presidential frontrunner.

Even Pope Francis reportedly endorsed Duterte, a claim that Papal visit organizers has since refuted.

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