PDP Laban senatorial slate gains spotlight ahead of Election 2025
Vice President Sara Duterte shared her two heartfelt wishes for her upcoming birthday on May 31. First, she longs for her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to be back in the Philippines. Second, she hopes for a win by the PDP Laban senatorial slate in Election 2025.
Turning 47 this year, the Vice President expressed optimism that the 10 senatorial candidates under PDP Laban, along with two guest candidates—Senator Imee Marcos and Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar—will secure victory in the midterm elections. These two guest candidates were recently adopted by the party as it seeks more allies to safeguard the Vice President from a possible impeachment trial at the Senate.
Realistic prospects and family focus
When Vice President Duterte spoke with her father recently, she provided him with “realistic numbers” regarding the midterm elections. She identified more than two candidates from the PDP Laban senatorial slate who stand a good chance of winning.
“Sinabi niya, well, kung ‘yan ‘yung realistic, sabi niya, iiwan na lang natin sa Diyos ‘yung miracles. At sinabi niya, since tapos na ‘yung kampanya at eleksyon, kung pwede ko ba daw tutukan ‘yung kaso naman niya na sinabi ko naman sa kanya na gagawin ko ‘yun,” she said during a press conference in Davao City.
He told me that if that’s the realistic picture, then let’s leave the miracles up to God. And since the campaign and elections are over, he also asked me if I could focus already on his case, which I told him that I will.
The former president is now detained by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity.
Birthday in The Hague and advocacy efforts
For her second wish, the Vice President expressed her desire to see her father released. She plans to celebrate her birthday in The Hague and join supporters at the “ICC, Send Him Home” rally on May 31.
“Pinromise ko sa mga magulang ko na mag-birthday ako na nandyan silang dalawa. So pupunta kami ng mother ko para mag-celebrate with former President Duterte, and then pagkatapos namin pumasok doon sa loob, I can do a gathering, a discussion, a forum with mga kababayan nating OFWs doon sa The Hague,” she said.
I promised my parents that I will celebrate my birthday with both of them. So my mother and I will go there to celebrate with former President Duterte, and then after we visit him, I can do a gathering, a discussion, a forum with our OFWs in The Hague.
Davao City mayoral race and legal proceedings
Vice President Sara also shared updates on her father’s potential mayoral comeback in Davao City, where he leads his closest rival Karlo Alexei Nograles by a wide margin.
“‘Yun ay pinag-uusapan namin ng kanyang ICC lawyer at ng kanyang Philippine lawyer kung paano siya maka-oath as a winner ng mayoral contest dito sa Davao City,” she said.
We are discussing with his ICC lawyer and his Philippine lawyer how he can take his oath of office after possibly winning the mayoral race here in Davao City.
She added that once proclamation papers are secured, the lawyers will determine how the former President can be sworn in. He has until noon of June 30 to take his oath.
“Sabi ng lawyer doon sa ICC, once we get the proclamation papers, pag-uusapan namin ulit kung paano makapag-oath si dating Pangulo Rodrigo Duterte. We have until the day after proclamation until…noon of June 30 para siya maka-oath,” she explained.
The Vice President clarified that if her father becomes mayor again, he will be an absentee mayor, and the vice mayor will act in his stead. She emphasized that this arrangement is lawful under the Local Government Code.
“Wala namang legal questions diyan eh dahil covered ‘yan ng batas natin eh. Covered ‘yan ng local government code. Kapag wala ang mayor, automatic ang vice mayor ang nagiging acting mayor. So, walang butas sa batas diyan. Klaro ang ating local government code,” she said.
Voting rights and political dynasty views
Since former President Duterte is detained in The Hague, Sara revealed that he was unable to vote in the recent elections because he was not registered as an absentee voter. His lawyers had tried to seek permission from Comelec to allow him to vote outside absentee voting laws, but it was unsuccessful.
“Ang pagkakaintindi ko, sinubukan nung lawyers niya na magpaalam sa Comelec na kung pwede bumoto si dating Pangulong Duterte outside of the absentee voting law kasi ‘yun lang ‘yung paraan na pwede siyang mag-boto but hindi siya naka-register doon. So, ang pagkakaintindi ko, wala siya. Unfortunately, hindi niya na-exercise ‘yung right to vote niya this time and I am sure that he is sad about that,” she said.
On the topic of political dynasties, Vice President Sara expressed support for any bill that would regulate or prohibit them. In fact, she joked about writing such a bill herself, claiming expertise due to her family background.
She urged voters to consider a candidate’s abilities rather than their family name when casting ballots.
“I am campaigning about us selecting people automatically based on their family affiliation. We should ask the person first. Okay, Duterte ka, ano ba ang abilidad mo? Ano ba ang kapasidad mo? Okay, Marcos ka, ano ba ang abilidad mo? Ano ba ang kapasidad mo? Hindi automatic ‘yun na parang tipong pag-anak, asawa, kapatid, pamangkin. Automatic na,” she said.
Yes you’re a Duterte or a Marcos, but what’s your ability? What’s your capacity? Voting for them is not automatic just because they are a relative, a spouse, or sibling.
“Absent a law, that is the most that we can do as voters—question the capacity and the competence of the candidate,” she emphasized.
Encouraging public service in the family
Despite her stance on political clans, Sara sees promise in her half-sister, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, who is considering entering public service.
“Natural sa kanya at 21 years old, na nakita ko ‘yung wala sa akin noong 21 years old ako,” she remarked.
It’s natural for her at the age of 21. I saw in her what I didn’t see in myself when I was 21.
“Merong resistance sa akin noon. But sa kanya, tanggap niya kaagad, diretso na, ‘Ito ‘yung likely na magiging buhay ko. I will become a public person.’ Not necessarily a government official siguro, but alam niya na meron siyang public persona,” she added.
There was a resistance from me back then. But Kitty accepted her fate immediately. She was direct that this will likely be her life, that she will become a public person. Not necessarily a government official, but she knows that she has a public persona.