Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte at the House Quad Comm hearing on drug war victims. Screen grab from House hearing. 

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte disclosed that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, has instructed her to tell people to vote for his Duter10 senatorial candidates and let the nation know what’s at stake for a solid support on his ticket.

In an interview during her visit at La Castellana, Negros Oriental, the vice president said the former president called to tell her to tell the people not to have qualms anymore about his candidates and make them understand the crucial importance of voting the senatorial bets of his party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) – Laban, now collectively known as Duter10. 

“Nagkausap kami kahapon, ma’am. Tumawag siya sa akin — si President Duterte at sinabi niya sa akin na diretsohin po na daw ‘yung mga tao na bumoto straight ng PDP Laban. Huwag na daw magpaligoy-ligoy pa. Sabihin na daw diretso. At ipaintindi sa mga tao bakit kailangan nilang bumoto straight ng sampu na mga senators ng — Duter10, ang tawag nila sa sarili nila ma’am, dahil hindi sila lahat galing sa isang partido lamang, no?” She said, quoting the former president. 

She also confirmed that she will be joining the sorties of PDP-Laban and has been strategizing how to manage all campaign events. 

On effect of Imee Marcos, Camille Villar endorsement

Despite the clear inclination of reelectionist Sen. Imee Marcos to the Dutertes, she and Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar still did not earn the endorsement of the former president despite the backing of his daughter. 

Duterte cleared that endorsing the two administration-linked candidates was her personal decision because of their strong friendship through the years. 

“Ma’am, meron po akong — nakita nyo po yung endorsement video po kay Imee Marcos at kay Camille Villar. Dahil ito sa matagal na namin na pagkakaibigan at dahil din ito sa sinabi ko nga, pareho naman yung vision ng Duterten at nung dalawa pang kandidato, and that is a peaceful and prosperous Philippines. They have a shared vision,” she said. 

Duterte allies disapprove 

Meanwhile, some Duterte loyalists expressed opposition to the decision of the vice president noting concerns of aligning with figures who might possibly turn against them in the future. 

Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that while Marcos and Villar would most likely gain votes from Duterte supporters, political alignment still remains to be an issue. 

Lawyer, singer and PDP-Laban senatorial bet Jimmy Bondoc believes the vice president’s move opposes the strategies of their chairman. 

Constitutional expert and Dutert10 official candidate Raul Lambino said he will only call for support for the ten PDP-Laban senatoriables officially endorsed by the former president who chairs the party. 

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