Vice President Sara Duterte blasted President Marcos’ Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas, calling it a “dangerous alliance” meant to enslave Filipinos and bring the country back to narco-politics.

During the PDP-Laban’s Miting de Avance at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on Thursday night, May 8, Duterte did not mince words against the alliance formed by Marcos by putting together a Senate slate from different political parties.

“Ang binuong Alyansa ay isang mapanganib na pagsasanib-puwersa ng isang administrasyong walang kakayahan, mga elitistang liberal at mga tinaguriang Makabayan na ang tunay na hangarin ay manatiling mahirap ang taumbayan (The Alyansa formed is a dangerous alliance of an incapable administration, elitist liberals, and so-called nationalists whose true goal is to keep the country poor),” she said.

Such alliance, Duterte added, will bring the country back to narco-politics, as well as to the “nightmare” of Typhoon Yolanda when Filipinos were abandoned.

“Ito ang alyansang muling nais tayong alipinin—gamit ang kahirapan, kasinungalingan, at kapangyarihan (This is an alliance that wants to enslave us once more—by using poverty, lies, and power),” the official, who was clad in a black shirt with the trademark Duterte fist logo, furthered.

The Vice President instead urged their supporters to use their votes to reject such an alliance and to “vote straight” the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial bets that her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, has endorsed.

“Let us show the world that no amount of vote-buying or cheating can suppress the fury burning in our hearts. Time and again, you have heard me say, God save the Philippines. Ngayong Lunes, bumoto tayo ng diretso (This Monday, let us vote straight) and let us all save the Philippines,” Duterte said.

The Vice President also warned against massive cheating and vote-buying in the coming May 12 midterm elections and called on their supporters to be vigilant on Election Day.

“Kaya sa May 12 kailangan natin maging mapagmatyag (On May 12, we need to be vigilant),” she told rain-soaked supporters who have waited for hours to hear her speak.

“May mga ulat at bulong-bulungan na may mga kumikilos na sa iba't-ibang parte ng ating bansa--mga babala na maaaring nagsisimula na ang malawakang dayaan sa halalan ng alyansa (There are reports and whispers that there are movements in different parts of the country--these are warnings that massive cheating is starting for the Alyansa),” she added, referring to Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas, President Marcos’ Senate bets.

Duterte accused that the use of “ayuda (aid)” is a form of vote-buying, stressing that it is an “insult” to Filipinos.

“Ang ayuda ay hindi naman likas na masama. Sa katunayan, marami ang natulungan nito noong panahon ng pandemya. Ngunit kapag ginamit ito para manipulahin kayo at pagsamantalahan ang inyong kahirapan upang manatili sila sa kapangyarihan--nagiging sandata ito ng pang-aabuso (Aid is not inherently bad. In truth, it helped a lot during the pandemic. But when this is used to manipulate you and take advantage of your poverty so they can remain in power--it becomes a tool of abuse),” she explained.

Before her father’s arrest and eventual detention in The Hague, the Vice President refused to directly endorse all PDP-Laban bets, saying that she has learned her lesson after running with Marcos in 2022.

But as a “favor” to the elder Duterte, she went home from The Hague last month and started campaigning for the so-called DuterTen senatoriables.

“Kailangan natin mag-vote straight sa mga taong magtutuloy ng nasimulan ni [dating] pangulong Duterte (We need to vote straight the people who will continue what [former] president Duterte has started),” she said.

She named the DuterTen: reelectionist Senators Bong Go and Ronald Dela Rosa, Sagip Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, lawyers Jimmy Bondoc, Jayvee Hinlo, Raul Lambino, Vic Rodriguez, former actor Philip Salvador, Dr. Richard Mata, and detained teleevangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Aside from the 10 candidates that her father has previously endorsed, the Vice President shared she would be voting for presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar.

She acknowledged that their supporters are against her endorsement of Marcos, but pointed out her recent role in investigating the “abduction” of the former president.

“Alam ko hindi kayo matutuwa, pero iboboto ko si Imee Marcos. Siya ang naglakas loob na buksan ang imbestigasyon sa pagdukot ng pamahalaan ng isang Pilipino dito sa bayan para ihatid sa mga dayuhan (I know you are not going to be happy, but I will vote Imee Marcos. She bravely opened the investigation about the kidnapping of a Filipino from our country to send to the foreigners),” she said.

She added that she will also vote for Villar because of her experience as a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, which she believes will bring change to the Senate.

While Duterte shared that she would be voting for both Marcos and Villar, she did not ask their supporters to do the same. She also earlier said that her father did not give Marcos and Villar his blessings.

When the Vice President took the stage from PDP-Laban president and campaign manager Senator Robin Padilla, the crowd broke to a “Duterte! Duterte!” chant, which prompted her to thank them for braving the rain and hunger just to show their support and for continuing to trust her despite her name being dragged through the mud in recent months.

“This election will decide the future of our country. Ang boto ninyo ang magbibigay katiyakin kung maituloy ang pagbabago o kung tuloy-tuloy na lang tayo sa kapamahakan (Your vote will ensure that we will continue the change or the disaster that’s happening). Filipinos deserve better,” Duterte said.

“I have repeatedly said this before, and I will say it again now--I am not the problem of this country. Hindi ako ang problema ng Pilipinas. Hindi Duterte ang problema ng Pilipinas (I am not the problem of the Philippines. A Duterte is not the problem of the Philippines),” she added.

The Vice President lamented voting for a leader without the ability to lead and understand the plight of the common Filipino.

“What we are witnessing is a systematic demolition job against political opponents that once dared to put the country first,” she said.

Aside from her father’s arrest, the Vice President herself was impeached by the House of Representatives in February and just recently, her brother, Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte, was slapped with physical injuries and grave threats charges by a Davao-based businessman.

“Pinagbabayaran natin ngayon ang pagpili ng maling leader (We are paying for our wrong choice of leader),” Duterte said, once again raising issues against the President—his refusal to undergo a hair follicle drug test, the failure to fulfill his campaign promise of P20-per-kilo rice, and the arrest of her father.

“Again, Filipinos deserve better. We must return to long-term concrete programs, not short-term dole-outs that are being abused by those in power,” she added.

What Filipinos need is an effective food security program, modern hybrid education system, and true universal healthcare system, the Vice President furthered.