Duterte seeks votes for Sara: 'Even if you shade her circle last'
Less than three weeks before the May elections, President Duterte hopes that the public will consider voting for his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who is running for vice president.
Duterte made this appeal during the PDP-Laban campaign rally in Caloocan City Tuesday evening, April 19.
As he ended his speech, the President reminded the public that his daughter was running in the elections and hoped they would consider voting for her.
"May nakalimutan ako. Actually, gusto ko lang sabihin na may isang anak ako na kandidato (I forgot someone. Actually, I just want to tell you that my daughter is running)," Duterte said.
"Kung maski last mo lang siya i-shade, si Inday Sara. Salamat. Kung maanuhan lang niyo (Even if you shade her slot last. Thank you. If you want to consider her)," he added.
Duterte endorsed Mayor Sara's vice-presidential bid early this month, saying even though they were not speaking, she was still his daughter.
"Ang akong --- ang ako, ako retired. Akong anak modaga’g bise-presidente. Og inyong tan-aw nga... Actually, this is the first time nga gigamit nako ang akong pagka-amahan nga sa anak. Nagkuan ko eh, nakaagi’g samok. Pero anak is anak is anak (I’m going to retire but my daughter is running for vice president. If you think that... Actually, this is the first time that I’m using my name as a father, for my daughter. It’s because we’ve had issues, but she is my daughter)," he said.
"Pero maayo na si Inday sa tinuod lang. Basta trabaho lang tinarong, maayo na si Inday (nday is very good, to be totally honest with you. Inday is very hard working)," he added.
President Duterte first mentioned that he and his daughter are not speaking after the latter decided to run for vice president in the 2022 elections. He claimed that the Davao City Mayor kept him in the dark about her plans.
President Duterte was in Caloocan City to campaign for PDP-Laban's senatorial slate, namely: House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, actor Robin Padilla, broadcaster Rey Langit, former Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission head Greco Belgica, and former Commission on Filipinos Overseas executive director Astra Pimentel.
The President also campaigned for the party's guest candidates: former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, former Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gringo Honasan, former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, and former Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro.
Duterte likewise mentioned that he supports Jinggoy Estrada's bid to return to the Senate after being imprisoned for three years because of his supposed involvement in the Pork Barrel Scam. According to the President, in his eyes, Estrada is innocent.
"Unless there is a finding that he is guilty, in my eyes, he remains to be innocent," he said.
"Gusto ko, dahil matiyaga, marunong rin, at alam niya ang trabaho niya (I like him because he is diligent, bright, and he knows his job)," he added.
Meanwhile, Duterte also expressed support for House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero, Senator Joel Villanueva, former Senator JV Ejercito, and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.