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FMJ on Dutertes’ Senate bid, it’s free country
By Nidz Godino
“It’s free country…they’re allowed to do what it is that they want… I really have no reaction to it,” , President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said former president Rodrigo Duterte and his children are free to seek any electoral post in the coming elections, but the “real situation” will emerge only after filing of certificates of candidacy in October.
Vice President Sara Duterte, announced her resignation from Cabinet on June 19, revealed last Tuesday that her father and her brothers Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte would run for Senate in next year’s midterm elections.
The Vice President, who quit as Marcos’ education chief, said Sebastian may seek presidency in 2028. She stressed that her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, had asked her to run for mayor of Davao City again.
Asked to react to Dutertes’ political plans, Marcos replied “besides, it’s still early…we really won’t know any of these things…we’re talking about 2028…a lot will happen between now and 2028.”
Marcos noted that the “only real situation” would become clear during filing of certificates of candidacy in October.
“Then we will see really who will run…who will they align with…what are parties involved…which parties are in alliance with which…we will see that in October…so, all of these announcements, well, let’s see if they will push through come October,” the President said.
Marcos also claimed that nothing has changed in UniTeam, the coalition that carried him and Duterte during 2022 polls, despite Vice President’s resignation from Cabinet.
The President noted that Duterte came to UniTeam as candidate of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, but eventually left party. However, parties that were aligned with UniTeam in 2022 are still with coalition, he added.
“That’s why I’m saying, it depends on who Duterte will side with… will determine whether or not that will be biggest change in UniTeam if Inday Sara leaves UniTeam. …that would be biggest change if ever, but the party has not changed… we’re already in alliance with Lakas…we’re soon to be with NPC ,Nationalist People’s Coalition… we are soon to be in alliance with NUP ,National Unity Party…we are soon to be in alliance with Nacionalista, basically the same list as what we had during ‘22 elections ..so, UniTeam is still there…if you look at the structure of parties that ran together in the last election, that really hasn’t changed,” Marcos said.
In 2021, Duterte announced she would seek vice presidency and filed as substitute candidate for Lakas. Last year, Duterte resigned from party after her ally, former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was demoted from senior deputy speaker to deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.
Earlier this month, Sara said UniTeam had already served its purpose.
“UniTeam was tandem during 2022 elections… elections are over, we won and we are grateful to those who supported us, we are not candidates anymore,” she told reporters in Davao City on June 12.
For Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, Duterte is not one to joke about three Dutertes gunning for national positions in 2025.
“I know VP Sara… I believed her statement…she will not make joke when it comes to her brothers…let us wait for filing of candidacy,” Dela Rosa said at Kapihan sa Senado forum.
Dutertes would no longer make mockery of filing of candidacies, similar to what elder Duterte did in 2016 elections, said Dela Rosa, who himself was placeholder when he filed and then withdrew his bid for president in 2022.
Dela Rosa, reelectionist, is looking forward to joining campaign of three Dutertes and Sen. Bong Go, who is also seeking second term. “It would make campaign happier,” Dela Rosa said.
Asked if it was “too much” for Duterte family to field three members in Senate race, Dela Rosa said national politics has always been family affair.
“What’s new?” Dela Rosa said, referring to proliferation of political dynasties both in House of Representatives and Senate.
“If others can do it, why not the Dutertes…why should it be too much for the Dutertes to run for Senate, but not for Cayetanos, Villars, Estradas?” he stressed.
Dela Rosa said brewing alliance between Marcos administration and “Yellow” or “Pink” forces from Liberal Party as revealed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV – is proof that two camps are threatened by Duterte’s popularity.
“Anybody can form ticket against Dutertes…they can talk if they want, nothing can stop them,” Dela Rosa said.
“Liberal Party will then make itself administration if it unites with Malacañang… seems they want Dutertes to be opposition,” he said.
Meanwhile, militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said President Marcos should do his best to prevent his predecessor from returning to power if he is genuinely concerned about country’s welfare.
In a statement, KMP chairman Danilo Arao also said Marcos should renew Philippines’ membership in International Criminal Court investigating killings and other alleged human rights abuses perpetrated by the Duterte administration in his so-called war on drugs.
“This development should be wake-up call to Marcos administration to end Dutertes once and for all…for Filipino people, this is challenge to strive for genuine social change,” Arao said.
Arao also said country had suffered enough during Duterte’s presidency, adding former chief executive and his children should not be allowed to occupy national positions.
“We do not want him in any government office now and forever, period,” he said.
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