LA CASTELLANA, Negros Occidental — Veronica Duterte — the youngest daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte — will soon take part in sorties to urge voters to elect 10 senatorial aspirants allied with their family, as the political clan rushes to broaden their voter base about three weeks before the 2025 midterm elections.

 Vice President Sara Duterte said she is in the process of fixing their schedules to make sure that their family can cover more ground in the remaining campaign days. 

“Humingi kasi ako ng tulong dahil kaunti na lang yung oras at ang utos sa akin ni PRD (President Rodrigo Duterte) ay idiretso sa mga tao, idiretso na sabihin sa kanila na i-bloc vote, i-straight vote yung sampu [na kandidato],” the Vice President told reporters in a chance interview. 

“Humingi ako ng tulong sa mga kapatid ko para maraming areas ang macover in a short span of time… Pinapauwi ko yung kuya namin at pinapapalit ko yung uncle namin doon para puwedeng sumama yung kuya namin sa pangangampaniya ng mga senators,” she said.

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“Kinausap ko na din si Kitty na kung puwede siyang sumampa sa mga stage para mangampaniya sa mga senators at un-oo naman siya,” she said. 

The 21-year old Veronica — the former president’s daughter with his common-law partner Honeylet Avanceña — is the lone Duterte scion who has yet to occupy an elective position. 

Eldest son Paolo is the current Davao representative, Sara is the second-highest elected official in the country, while their brother Sebastian is the incumbent Davao City mayor. 

While Veronica — more commonly called Kitty — has appeared on various public events during their father’s presidency from 2016 to 2022, this year’s campaign will mark her debut as an active player in a national campaign. 

“Nakita niyo naman mabilis siya nag-mature simula nung 2016 hanggang ngayon,” the Vice President said. 

“Duterte siya so naiintindihan niya at nasa dugo niya yung pagiging pulitiko at naiintindihan niya bakit nangangampaniya ang tao,” she said. 

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“Napagusapan lang namin na ayusin yung messaging para maintindihan ng mga tao kung ano ba yung gusto naming sabihin sa ating mga kababayan para pareho kami ng sinasabi sa mga stage,” she said. 

The Vice President said she initially wanted to take a back seat in this year’s campaign, but changed her mind after their father was arrested and hauled before the International Criminal Court last month on charges of crimes against humanity. 

“Kagabi nag-restrategize ako kung ano dapat gagawin kasi ang balak ko sana ma’am umikot lang sa mga tao para magpasalamat,” she said. 

“Nagkausap kami kahapon [ni dating Pangulong Duterte], tumawag siya sa akin. Sinabi niya sa akin na diretsuhin ko na daw yung mga tao na bumoto straight PDP-Laban wag na magpaligoy ligoy pa,” she said. 

“Ipaintindi [ko daw] sa mga tao bakit kailangan nila bumoto ng sampu,” she said. 

Of the ten Duterte-backed senatorial candidates, only re-electionist senators Bong Go and Ronald Dela Rosa have breached the top 12 rankings in pre-election surveys. 

The Vice President has also endorsed Sen. Imee Marcos and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, who are performing better in the surveys compared to other Duter10 bets. 

“Nandiyan si Imee, nandiyan si Camille, matitino ito na tao,” she said. 

“Hindi ako namimilit pero nandiyan sila… Iwan na namin sa mga tao,” she said.

The Vice President said she has yet to endorse candidates in local races.