VP Sara urges voters to support ‘Duter10’, Imee, Camille

National

VICE President Sara Duterte urged the public to support the 10 senatorial candidates endorsed by her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, along with two others — Las Piñas Congresswoman Camille Villar and Senator Imee Marcos.

She clarified that Villar and Marcos were not part of her father’s original lineup of endorsed candidates.

Sara ade the call during an ambush interview in Danao City, Cebu on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

While in Danao, the vice president visited the local cemetery in search of her great-grandfather Facundo Duterte’s grave.

She said she has been asking Cebuanos to help her find the burial site, which she believes is located somewhere in the city.

“Bumisita kami dito sa cemetery ng Danao City kasi nandito yung mga relatives namin sa Duterte side. At hanggang ngayon, hinahanap ko kasi saan yung libingan ng lolo ni dating President Rodrigo Duterte,” she said.

She added that a Mass would be offered at the Danao Church for Facundo and Zoila Duterte.

Duterte explained that she initially did not intend to endorse any candidates in the 2025 elections. Her decision changed, she said, after the controversial transfer of her father to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

“Sinabi ko sa kanya na okay, since wala ka naman na doon sa Pilipinas, pwede akong tumulong sa six Partido Demokratriko Pilipino (PDP) candidates and four guest candidates ng Duterte. Tawag nila ngayon sa kanilang grupo ay Duter10,” she said.

She added that Villar and Marcos joined the slate to complete the 12-member lineup.

“Kulang din naman kasi ng dalawang kandidato yung 10 dahil as a voter tayong lahat ay binigyan tayo ng right to vote for 12 senators,” she said.

Duterte acknowledged her long-standing ties with both Villar and Marcos, saying their inclusion in the lineup felt natural.

She recalled meeting Marcos in Cebu in 2012 and said she and Villar often exchanged ideas about motherhood.

While she clarified she is not formally part of the PDP-Laban slate or attending campaign rallies, Duterte said she is helping in her own way by thanking supporters of her father and emphasizing the importance of voting straight for the “Duter10 Plus 2.”

“Gusto ko na malaman nila na bumisita kami, dumaan kami para ipakita din sa kanila yung pagpapasalamat namin,” she said.

Duterte addressed speculation that her endorsements were politically motivated, particularly in light of her pending impeachment case.

She denied any political strategy behind her actions and said her father’s situation drove her to act.

Despite the political climate, Duterte expressed confidence in her legal team’s ability to handle the impeachment proceedings and reaffirmed her commitment to supporting her father and the candidates he endorsed.

“Napakalaki ng suporta ng sambayanan kay Pangulong Duterte,” she said.

The vice president clarified that she is not endorsing any local candidates in Cebu, despite meeting with gubernatorial candidate Pam Baricuatro.

“I’m not officially endorsing anyone local, but I thanked her for supporting President Duterte,” she said.

Baricuatro is challenging reelectionist Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, a known ally of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Duterte also met with Danao City Mayor Mix Durano, who is running for Cebu Fifth District Representative against incumbent Congressman Duke Frasco.(MyTVCebu)