Former President Rodrigo Duterte campaigns for PDP Laban slate at Hugpong Youth Summit in Davao City on Feb. 28, 2025. Hernel TocmoDAVAO CITY — The PDP Laban senatorial slate participated in the Hugpong Youth Summit in Davao City, which was attended by over a thousand youth voters on Friday evening.

The senatorial candidates and candidates for local positions delivered messages aimed at seeking votes in the midterm elections in May.

Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go, who has been climbing electoral surveys, highlighted his projects including, he said, the 167 Malasakit Centers across the country.

The centers, created by law in 2019 and funded in the national budget, are one-stop shops for medical and financial assistance and health care referrals.

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"Eskwela mo og tarong, gusto nako ilayo ang kabatan-onan sa iligal na droga. Dili nako gusto masayang ang gisugdan ni Former President Duterte nga labanan ang kriminalidad ug iligal nga droga (Study well. I want to protect young people from the dangers of illegal drugs. I don't want to waste the progress that former President Duterte made in the fight against crime and illegal drugs. )," he said in his speech.

Go, along with Sen. Robin Padilla and senatorial aspirant Philip Salvador, also sang for the crowd.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte also attended the event, introducing PDP Laban's senatorial lineup one by one.

"Sana mamili tayo talaga ng kandidato na makita ninyo, makatulong hindi sa inyo. Wag niyo nang isipin ang sarili mo kung mag-election. Think of the candidate who can do the work for the community. Yan ang importante. Iwasan na ninyo ang malikot ang kamay," he told the audience.

During his speech, Duterte mentioned his successor, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., and criticized him for the ongoing poverty in the country.

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"He will go down as one of the most unpopular presidents na sa panahon niya, marami ang nagutom at namatay," he said.

The former president, who is running for mayor of Davao City, said he is tired but is still committed to leading the city, where his son Sebastian is mayor.