Former president Rodrigo Duterte (PPAB)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte--Members of the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate gave varying opinions as to whether or not former president Rodrigo Duterte's recent arrest on orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC) would affect their chances in the upcoming mid-term polls.

In a press conference here Friday, March 14, former senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos said that the arrest of the administration critic would certainly have and effect.

"I’ll be honest with you. Siyempre may epekto. Hindi natin maipagkakaila na maraming supporter si [Duterte]. Rightly or wrongly siyempre nandoon ang kanilang sentiment para sa kanya," Lacson said.

(Of course there's an effect. We cannot deny that Duterte has a lot of supporters. Rightly or wrongly, their sentiments are with him.)

Lacson said Duterte's base of support comes not just from Mindanao, but also I'm the Visayas.

While Abalos agrees that the administration candidates will be affected, he said that the focus in the elections should be their competence as legislators.

"Apektado ba kami? (Are we affected?) Personally I would say yes because right it's an emotional issue," he said.

"But let us focus on the fact that kami rito ay tumatakbo for a senatorial position. Ang gagawa ng polisiya, programa for the next six years for our country. Sana tignan natin ang programang nilalatag...because at stake is really the future of our country."

(But let us focus on the fact that we're running for a senatorial position. We will craft the policies and programs for the next six years for our country. Let's take a look at the programs that we are laying down...for the next six years for our country.)

Endorsed by President Marcos himself, the administration bets call themselves the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas. 

Alyansa bet ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo was less decisive as to the impact of Duterte’s arrest to his election chances.

"We don't know, maybe. So we have to look siguro toward the end of this month," he said, as if pointing to the release of the next survey results. Tulfo is the consistent survey topnotcher. 

Reelectionist Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino didn't address the question directly, but admitted that he was saddened by the development.

"On a personal note, tayo po ay nalungkot din, tayo po ay nag-alay din ng dasal hindi lang para kay presidente Duterte, kung hindi para sa bansang Pilipinas (On a personal note, I was saddened, I offered a prayer not just for president Duterte, but also for the Philippines)," he said.

Former Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto--the most seasoned among the Alyansa candidates--says he won't gain anything by airing his opinion on Duterte’s arrest.

"Walang tama o mali na response dyan eh. Ang pinakamagandang response dyan is not to respond (There is no correct or wrong response to that. The best response there is to not respond)," he said.

"Kasi kahit anong sabihin mo dyan may pipintas sayo eh. No-win perspective yan (Whatever you say about it, you will get criticized. It's a no-win perspective)," Sotto added, as he shrugged his shoulders.