VP Duterte to Tondo residents: Don’t vote for Marcos-backed candidates
INQUIRER.net/ Faith Argosino
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte urged residents of Tondo in Manila not to vote for the senatorial candidates endorsed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Duterte made the pronouncement during the campaign rally of former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, along with the latter’s full slate of candidates.
READ: Roque posts photos of VP Duterte supporting Camille Villar’s Senate run
“Ang pangako bente pesos na bigas. Hanggang ngayon ay di pa nabibigay. Kaya anong pwede niyo gagawin, wag ninyong iboto ang mga kandidato niya dahil ang mga kandidato niya ay nagsasabi sakanya na okay lang na magsinungaling ka, okay lang na di mo tuparin ang mga pangako mo sa mga tao,” the vice president said on Thursday night.
(The promise of P20 rice has not yet been delivered until now. So what can you do? Do not vote for his (Marcos’) candidates because his candidates are telling him it is okay to lie. It is okay not to keep your promises to the people.)
“Wag niyo iboto ang mga kandidato ni nino (Don’t vote the candidates endorsed by who)?” she asked the crowd.
“BBM (Bongbong Marcos),” the residents answered.
Contrary to this statement, Duterte earlier endorsed Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, who is part of the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.
Duterte’s endorsement was posted online by former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque two weeks ago.
Roque showed a collage of photos of Duterte with Villar and her father, former Senate President Manny Villar.
“Politics is addition after all!” Roque’s short caption reads.
Aside from Villar, Duterte also endorsed presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos, who is running for reelection.
READ: Imee Marcos to officials involved in Duterte arrest: Tell the truth
During the same campaign event in Tondo, Duterte told voters to support the lady senator, along with the 10 bets supported by the vice president’s father, former chief executive Rodrigo Duterte.
“Sampu lang ang senador ng Duterte kaya nandito si Sen. Imee Marcos na humihingi ng tulong ninyo para siya ay maibalik sa senado at matuloy niya ang pagimbestiga ng pagnanakaw kay dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte,” the vice president said.
(Dutertes endorsed only 10 candidates, that’s why Sen. Imee Marcos is asking for your help so she can go back to the Senate and continue her investigation on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“At pangako din niya na tutulong din siya sa pag ransom or pagkuha balik, ibalik dito sa ating bayan si pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Nagsabi siya na tutulong siya dahil naiintindihan niya na walang direksyon ang ating gobyerno sa ngayon,” she added.
(And she promised to help bring him back, to bring Duterte back here in our country. She said she would help because the current government has no direction.)
‘Imee’s not her brother’
Aside from reiterating her endorsement for the presidential sister, the younger Duterte likewise pointed out the difference between the former and the current chief executive.
“Tulad na lang ng magkaibang tao kami ni pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ay hindi si Inday Sara Duterte si Bongbong Marcos ay hindi si Imee Marcos,” she clarified.
(Just like President Rodrigo Duterte and I are different people. President Rodrigo Duterte is not Inday Sara Duterte, Bongbong Marcos is not Imee Marcos.)
After the campaign rally, the lady senator was asked about her current relationship with the President, but she did not answer.
The older Marcos was previously part of the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.
She withdrew from the slate days after the arrest of the former chief executive.
Last March 11, Duterte was served an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s brutal drug war.
