Vice President Sara Duterte announced on Thursday that she has declined requests from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to assist with their respective senatorial slates for the upcoming midterm elections.
“Before ako mag-resign, meron kaming isang meeting kung saan inimbita ako ni President Marcos na sumali, tumulong sa administration para sa mga senators, senator-candidates at sabi ko sa kanya, hindi muna ako sasali sa midterm elections,” Duterte said in an ambush interview.
She also mentioned a similar request from her father. “Sa isa namang pagkikita namin ni former President Duterte, by chance nagkita kami ni former President Duterte, inimbita niya rin ako na mangampanya, tumulong, sumuporta para sa mga candidates ng PDP. So sinabi ko rin sa kanya na hindi muna ako sasali sa midterm elections,” she said.
Despite declining her father’s request, the Vice President mentioned a scheduled “heart-to-heart” meeting with PDP re-electionists, Senators Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, after the State of the Nation Address.
“Kailangan ko muna kasi pag-isipan kung ano ‘yung direksyon ko sa midterm elections sa susunod na taon kaya hindi pa ako handa na sumagot sa kanilang dalawa kung anong gagawin for the midterm elections,” she explained.