VP Sara: Some PDP members could join Rodrigo Duterte, siblings’ Senate slate

Vice President Sara Duterte said on Saturday that the planned senatorial slate of her father and her two other siblings for the 2025 midterm elections may include PDP members. 

She said that her father and former president Rodrigo Duterte, as well as her brothers Paolo and Sebastian, are now preparing for the senatorial elections next year. 

“When I talked to the group of former president Rodrigo Duterte, they told me that they are now preparing to run,” said Duterte in Cebuano during a chance interview with reporters. 

“When I also talked to my older brother, (Paolo) Pulong Duterte, he told me that he was ready to run for senator,” she added. 

“The people around my youngest sibling (Sebastian) Baste Duterte also informed me that they are preparing or already prepared.” 

Duterte, however, did not mention the names of those who could possibly join the slate.

”Hindi ko alam kung meron ba silang mga kasamahan sa lineup pero dahil, ito ay assumption ko lang, si Pangulong Duterte ay galing sa PDP, likely kasama rin niya ang ibang PDP na mga senador,” she said.

(I’m not sure about the lineup, but my assumption is that since former president Duterte is a member of the PDP, he will probably run alongside other senators from that party.)

The former ruling PDP has three senators seeking reelection: Ronald ”Bato” dela Rosa, Christopher ”Bong” Go, and Francis Tolentino. 

Further, when asked if she is now the leader of opposition following her resignation from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet, Duterte said: “Sa trabaho ko at sa pagkatao ko at sa prinsipyo ko, hindi ako gumagalaw for the administration, for the opposition, or kung ano man ‘yang pulitika na ‘yan. Ang galaw ko ay base sa kung ano yung makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan, at kung ano ‘yung karapat-dapat.” 

(I don’t move for the administration, opposition, or any other political cause in my work, character, or principles. My actions are guided by what will benefit our fellow citizens and what is right.)

The vice president also said earlier that Baste will be running for president in 2028, while she was advised by her mother to run again as Davao City mayor. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/VBL, GMA Integrated News