MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. respects the plan of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Davao City’s Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, and Davao congressman Paolo Duterte to run in the Senate next year.
In an ambush interview on Thursday, the Chief Executive said it the right of the Dutertes to run for Senate seats in the 2025 midterm elections.
“It’s a free country,” said Marcos.
But he also said, “It is still early to determine who will really run. The real situation will become clear in October, sa filing (of certificates of candidacy).”
“Then we will see really kung tatakbo ba talaga. Sino ba talaga tatakbo? Sino, kanino sasama, which parties are involved, which parties are in alliance. Doon lang natin makikita sa Oktubre,” he added.
It was Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio who announced on Tuesday that her father and two brothers are raring to run for Senate seats next year.
Some members of the Duterte family have become critics of the administration, with Baste even calling for Marcos’ resignation. Former President Duterte has accused Marcos of being a drug user.
Meanwhile, President Marcos said nothing has changed with the UniTeam alliance, but Duterte-Carpio’s stance in the coming elections would be a major factor in determining the status of the tandem.
“You have to remember, the PDP was never a part of the UniTeam kahit na noong election. So it does not change anything for the UniTeam,” Marcos told the media.
He added: “Depende lang kung ano position ni Inday Sara pagdating sa election. Siya ba ay nasa administrasyon o siya ba ay nasa oposisyon? That will be the only major determinant,” he added.
Marcos further said that “the UniTeam is still there and if you look at the structure of the parties that ran together in the last election, that really hasn’t changed.”/PN
