Duterte on PDP-Laban bets: We will win

February 2, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Despite poor survey results, former president Rodrigo Duterte remains confident that the senatorial candidates under the PDP-Laban have a fighting chance in the upcoming midterm elections.

“We will win, believe me,” Duterte told party members n Filipino during the PDP National Coordination Meeting at the Grand Menseng Hotel in Davao City on Thursday.

Although Duterte, the party’s concurrent chairman, acknowledges that not all candidates will secure victory, he firmly believes that most will succeed.

The senatorial slate of PDP-Laban include Senators Bong Go and Ronald dela Rosa, actor Philip Salvador, singer Jimmy Bondoc, former Cagayan Economic Zone Authority administrator Raul Lambino and lawyer Jesus Hinlo.

Duterte also confidently declared that Go and Dela Rosa are guaranteed to win.

“One and two na,” he said.

Go and Dela Rosa are the only PDP-Laban senatorial candidates who made it to the “Magic 12” in the latest Social Weather Stations senatorial preference survey, with Go ranking between third and fourth place, and Dela Rosa securing the 10th spot.

Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, for his part, said he is aware that they are up against the administration’s political machinery.

“We are up against the resources of the country, but we will fight. What for is the laban (fight) of PDP-Laban if we won’t fight,” he said.

The son of the former president also urged PDP members and supporters to ensure they vote for and campaign in support of the party’s senatorial candidates.

“Your vote will be a vote against an administration that has done nothing but oppress its people,” he said.