Marcos on Dutertes’ Senate bid: It’s a free country

“It’s a free country. They’re allowed to do whatever they want,” President Marcos said when asked about the reported plan of the three Dutertes to run for the Senate in May 2025. (Photo: Office of the President/Facebook)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and his two sons are more than free to run in future elections.

“It’s a free country. They’re allowed to do whatever they want,” President Marcos said when asked about the reported plan of the three Dutertes to run for the Senate in May 2025.

Vice President Sara Duterte recently announced that her father and brothers, Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, will run for senator next year.

Baste, the youngest of the Duterte siblings, is also eyeing the presidency in 2028, Vice President Duterte added.

In a media interview Thursday, Marcos said it is still too early to talk about the 2025 elections or the 2028 presidential polls.

“We’re talking about 2028, dami pa pangyayari (a lot can happen) between now and 2028. And the only real situation will become clear sa October, sa filing (of candidacies),” the President said.

“Then we will see really kung tatakbo ba talaga, sino ba talaga tatakbo, sino, kanino sasama, which parties are involved, which parties are in alliance, dun lang natin makikita sa Oktubre so all of these announcements, tingnan natin kun matutuloy pagdating sa Oktubre (By then we will see if they will really run, who will run, with whom, which parties are involved, which parties are in alliance. We will only see it in October so all of these announcements, let’s see if these push through when October comes),” he added.

Marcos is the president of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), one of the four main political parties that form part of the largely successful UniTeam Coalition in the 2022 presidential polls.

Aside from PFP, also in the coalition were Lakas-CMD, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) and the regional political party of Sara Duterte, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

Marcos and Vice President Duterte were runningmates under the UniTeam Coalition.

UniTeam status

Asked on the status of the UniTeam following the resignation of the Vice President from the Cabinet and the subsequent announcement of the Dutertes’ plan for the 2025 elections, Marcos said it would depend on the Vice President.

“You have to remember, the PDP was never a part of the UniTeam. PDP was never part of UniTeam kahit na nung election (even during the elections), so it does not change anyting for the UniTeam,” Marcos said.

The PDP or Partido Demokratiko Pilipino is the political party led by the Duterte patriarch.

“Depende lang kung ano position ni Inday Sara pagdating sa election. Siya ba ay nasa administrasyon o siya ba ay nasa oposisyon? That will be the only major determinant. But as the parties involved, pareho pa rin ang UniTeam, hindi pa nagbago (It will depend on Inday Sara’s position when election comes. Is she with the administration or is she with the opposition? That will be the only major determinant. But as the parties involved, the UniTeam is still the same, it hasn’t changed),” he added.

The PFP recently signed an alliance agreement with the Lakas-CMD and the Nationalist’s People’s Coalition in preparation for the 2025 midterm elections.

It is still unclear whether the PFP will forge an alliance with Sara Duterte’s HNP.