Sara Duterte bats for PDP senate bets: ‘Filipinos deserve better’
Vice President Sara Duterte. Photo from Inday Sara Dutere FB page
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte made one more appeal to voters to cast their ballots for the senatorial slate backed by her father, saying that “Filipinos deserve better.”
The Duterte-backed Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) is fielding 10 candidates for the 2025 Senate race, dubbing themselves the “DuterTen.”
“Unfortunately, we installed a leader with no capability to understand the true condition of Filipinos… We are paying the price of choosing the wrong leader,” the vice president, speaking in Filipino, said at the slate’s miting de avance at the Liwasang Bonifacio on Thursday.
“Filipinos deserve better. We must return to long-term, concrete programs, not short-term dole-outs that are being abused by those in power,” Duterte said, referring to ayuda.
‘What Filipinos need’
In batting for the PDP candidates, Duterte said Filipinos needed food security, a “modern and hybrid” education system to instill “discipline and love of country,” universal healthcare, and livelihood opportunities.
“What Filipinos need are strong infrastructures. Let us build, build, build, build into the future,” she further said, recalling the infrastructure program of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Above all, what Filipinos need is peace and order,” she stressed.
READ: PNP in the crossfire: Widening Marcos-Duterte rift tests police force
“We need to completely eliminate criminality, illegal drugs, terrorism, and insurgency through a truly non-partisan Philippine National Police supported by our Armed Forces.,” the vice president continued.
The other side
The Duterte-backed slate consists of the following candidates:
- Reelectionists Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa
- Reelectionist Sen. Christopger “Bong” Go
- Musician and lawyer Jimmy Bondoc
- Former Interior Usec. Jayvee Hinlo
- Former Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon Raul Lambino
- SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta
- Doctor and vlogger Richard Mata
- Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy
- Former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez
- Actor Phillip Salvador
In their campaign’s closing salvo, Vice President Duterte took a swipe at the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, the slate backed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. – her once ally.
“The Alyansa that was formed is a dangerous alliance of an administration that is inept, composed of elitist liberals and the so-called nationalists whose true goal is to keep the people poor,” VP Duterte said.
READ: VP Sara Duterte on her impeachment: ‘God save the Philippines’
Duterte claimed that there have been “warnings” of “widespread cheating” in the upcoming elections. However, she did not substantiate her claims in her speech.
“We need to be observant. There’ve been reports and whispers that there’ve been actions in many parts of the country, warnings that widespread cheating has already started in the election by the Alyansa,” she maintained.
“Let us vote with courage. Let us show the world that no amount of vote-buying or cheating can suppress the fury burning in our hearts… This Monday, let’s vote straight, and let us all save the Philippines,” she added. / MR
