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After returning to Manila from The Hague, Vice President Sara Duterte took on a mission from her detained father, former president Rodrigo Duterte: to campaign for the senatorial candidates of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the party he chairs.
Recalling her supposed conversation with her father at the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention center, the Vice President said she agreed to fulfill his wish because he is not physically present to campaign for the senatorial slate they call “Duter10,” composed of Bong Go, Ronald dela Rosa, Jimmy Bondoc, Raul Lambino, Jayvee Hinlo, Phillip Salvador, Rodante Marcoleta, Richard Mata, Apollo Quiboloy, and Vic Rodriguez.
“At sinabi ko sa kanya na, ‘Okay, since wala ka naman na doon sa Pilipinas, puwede akong tumulong sa six PDP candidates and four guest candidates ng Duterte.’ Tawag nila ngayon sa kanilang grupo ay Duter10. So ‘yan po ‘yung panawagan na bloc voting o vote straight doon sa sampung senators ni pangulong Duterte,” the Vice President said.
(And I told him, “Okay, since you’re not in the Philippines, I can help the six PDP candidates and four guest candidates of Duterte.” They now call their group Duter10. So that’s the call for bloc voting or straight voting for the 10 senators of president Duterte.)
Sara Duterte returned to Manila on April 6 after nearly a month-long stay in The Hague, where she said she had been working remotely and fulfilling her duties as the country’s second-highest official. Her return to the Philippines marked a month before the midterm elections, which are very crucial for her and for their family’s political survival.
Since then, she has been traveling around the country, meeting with local officials and engaging with communities and charming them — much like her father did — to ensure they maintain their political influence.
The 12 senators to be elected on May 12 will join the 12 incumbent senators who will serve as judges in the Vice President’s impeachment trial — a proceeding that could potentially remove her from office and bar her from running for president in 2028.
When asked what her endorsement would mean for the Duter10 candidates, the Vice President said she didn’t know and that she was simply fulfilling her father’s wish.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung makakatulong ba ‘yun sa kanilang candidacy pero ‘yun ang obligation ko sa ngayon, nakiusap ang dating pangulong Duterte para sa mga senators at sinabi ko nga, kaibigan ko, si Senator Imee Marcos at si senator Camille Villar. Kulang din naman kasi ng dalawang kandidato yung 10 dahil as a voter tayong lahat ay binigyan tayo ng right to vote for 12 senators,” she explained.
(To be honest, I don’t know if that will help their candidacies, but that is my obligation for now. Former president Duterte asked for help for the senators, and I mentioned that I’m friends with Senator Imee Marcos and Senator Camille Villar. The 10 candidates are also short by two because, as voters, we were all given the right to vote for 12 senators.)
It seems that it’s crunch time for Sara Duterte. Recall that in July 2024, she said that she preferred not to endorse any candidate for the midterm elections, but desperate times call for desperate measures. She said that what triggered her moves was the arrest of her father.
The PDP bets
Can Sara Duterte rely on PDP candidates for her acquittal? What are their standings two weeks before the elections?
Based on the latest surveys from trusted polling firms, Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations, it appears that only Go and Dela Rosa are likely to secure a spot, given their consistent rankings. Note, however, that Pulse Asia has not yet released its April 2025 survey, so what is reflected here is its March survey.
Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said that the increase in support for some Duterte candidates was primarily due to voters getting upset over the former president’s ICC arrest. However, he noted that the rise in numbers wasn’t enough to displace the administration’s frontrunners. Indeed, the SWS April survey indicated that Marcoleta and Salvador were no longer on the list of “probable winners.”
Imee and Camille
The Vice President is fully aware of the slim chances for the majority of the PDP candidates, which is why she also endorsed two candidates outside of the party — Imee Marcos and Camille Villar, whose rankings, by the way, are also still not in the safe zone.
In the Pulse Asia March survey, Marcos ranked between 13th and 18th, while Villar was between 12th and 18th. Meanwhile, in the April SWS survey, Marcos placed between 13th and 14th, while Villar ranked 10th.
The Vice President appeared in two separate campaign advertisements for the two.
Marcos has led a Senate probe into Rodrigo’s arrest. She has long navigated the delicate balance of being both a Marcos and a staunch Duterte ally. However, to critics and political observers, Marcos is simply maneuvering to ensure her political survival.
The Villars’ support for Duterte has a solid foundation. In one of her press briefings, Sara Duterte mentioned that the Villar patriarch, former Senate president Manny Villar, is one of her political advisers. Senator Cynthia Villar, on the other hand, has been vocal in her opposition to the Vice President’s impeachment. It’s also worth noting that Senator Mark Villar was appointed secretary of Public Works and Highways under Rodrigo Duterte.
Revenge time
It appears that the Vice President’s active participation in the campaign serves a dual purpose. While she campaigned for the PDP candidates, Sara also took the opportunity to campaign against the lawmakers responsible for her impeachment in the House of Representatives.
During a campaign rally for Manila mayoral candidate Isko Moreno, Sara urged Manileños not to vote for Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando Valeriano, a known Duterte critic, and Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua. It was Valeriano’s privilege speech in the House that triggered a probe into the Vice President’s alleged misuse of funds. Meanwhile, Chua was the one who led the investigation through his good government and accountability committee.
It’s important to note that Chua is part of the House prosecution in the upcoming impeachment trial of the Vice President in July. His reelection is crucial, as losing his seat could pose significant challenges for the prosecution.
It’s undeniably been a tough year for the Dutertes. Will Sara Duterte be able to survive her impeachment trial? Despite the challenges, she remains popular, as reflected in her approval and trust ratings. However, it’s difficult to predict how the senators, who will serve as judges, will ultimately decide. Political analyst Jean Franco offered an interesting perspective.
“I always tell people that at the end of the day, it’s difficult to predict how the senators will vote. Mainly because we should take note of the fact that it’s going to be live streamed. It’s going to be part of the Filipino public’s everyday lives, and politicians will judge based on how it will unfold. So, I expect that there will be surprises in terms of votes,” Franco said. – Rappler.com
