Kabataan Party-list Raoul Manuel. File photo.
MANILA, Philippines聽鈥� If President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. touts the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate as a line-up not associated with the bloody war on drugs and other controversial actions taken by the past administration, does Vice President Sara Duterte鈥檚 endorsement of some candidates say otherwise?
This was the question raised by Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel during an online press briefing on Monday, noting the 鈥渇laws鈥� in Alyansa鈥檚 unity slate as Deputy Speaker Camille Villar and Senator Imee Marcos get Duterte鈥檚 backing.
Villar is part of the Alyansa slate. At the same time, Senator Marcos left the lineup because she said she could not bear the administration鈥檚 actions against Duterte鈥檚 father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
鈥淥n the part of the Alyansa slate, we think this only shows how rough their version of unity is, because at the start of the campaign the sitting President is claiming that their slate is not tainted with any connection to bloody hands, to killers, something like that,鈥� Manuel said in Filipino.
Not consistent
鈥淪o what now that for example, Camille Villar gets endorsed by Sara Duterte, with that the sitting President is no longer consistent with his bases for including candidates in his admin slate,鈥� he added.
At the start of the campaign season for the 2025 midterm elections, Marcos shocked observers by taking a more aggressive stance against his predecessor, former president Duterte, and the lineup that he is endorsing.
At Alyansa鈥檚 proclamation rally at the Centennial Arena in Ilocos Norte last February 11, Marcos said that none of the senatorial candidates in Alyansa are associated with Oplan Tokhang, the Duterte administration鈥檚 house-to-house campaign against illegal drugs. That gained notoriety due to bloody killings and allegations of human rights violations.
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Marcos also claimed that no one from their slate is tainted by the corruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, by a pro-China stance, and by the illegal activities surrounding Philippine offshore gaming operators.
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But Duterte recently formalized her endorsement of Villar and Senator Marcos 鈥� the President鈥檚 elder sister 鈥� in separate campaign advertisements.
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Manuel hopes what happened with Alyansa and Duterte鈥檚 endorsements will make people realize the real basis for candidates to come together.
`All confusing now鈥�
鈥淚t seems to be all confusing now.聽 That鈥檚 why I hope it would be clear to our people what these candidates鈥� basis are for being together and making an alliance, is it about for the people or for those who are endorsing them?鈥� he asked.
Alyansa on the other hand has thanked Duterte for backing Villar, with campaign manager and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco saying that those endorsing their candidates share their vision of a peaceful and prosperous country.
Tiangco in a separate statement on Monday said that turning this vision, however, requires a 鈥渟teady leadership and a track record of delivering results.鈥�
鈥淲e are glad that they share our goal for a peaceful and prosperous Philippines.聽 But turning that vision into reality takes more than words.聽 It requires a clear direction, steady leadership, and a track record of delivering results,鈥� he said, after being asked by reporters regarding Duterte鈥檚 endorsement of Villar.
鈥淎lyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas stands on performance, not promises. Our candidates are working with President Ferdinand 鈥楤ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. to push for difficult but necessary reforms that will strengthen our institutions and improve lives,鈥� he added.