Vice President Sara Duterte skipped the proclamation rally for the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial bets in San Juan City on Thursday, Feb. 13, and was instead seen with half-sister Veronica “Kitty” Duterte in Japan.
Vice President Sara Duterte and younger sister Kitty Duterte in Japan. (Photos from Veronica Duterte Facebook page)
Seen on the younger Duterte’s social media posts on Wednesday, Feb. 12, were photos of the Vice President, including a TikTok video of the two of them dancing to ABBA’s classic hit “Super Trouper.”
Duterte, who was impeached by the House of Representatives on Feb. 5, was seen in another photo enjoying rice rolls in a restaurant.
Kitty, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter with partner Honeylet Avanceña, added the posts in an album entitled “Japan.” She, however, did not say when these were taken.
As of posting time, the duo’s Facebook reel already has 4.7 million views, with most of the comments encouraging the Vice President to relax amid the controversies thrown at her.
With Duterte in Japan, it seemed to be the reason she skipped PDP’s proclamation rally as only the former president was scheduled to deliver a speech.
(Photo courtesy of Kitty Duterte/Facebook)
The OVP, however, has yet to issue a response when asked by the media about Duterte’s whereabouts as of posting time.
While she was a no-show at Club FiIipino proclamation rally, TV host and actress Giselle Sanchez and her co-host read the message from Duterte, who officially endorsed the PDP Senate bets.
“Kaisa ng ating mga kababayang patuloy na naghahangad ng isang magandang kinabukasan, ipinapaabot ko ang aking pasasalamat sa inyong pagpupunyaging magbigay-daan sa isang tunay at makabuluhang pagbabago (With our countrymen who continue to hope for a better future, I am extending my gratitude in your endeavor for a true and meaningful change),” she said.
“Salamat sa inyong pagtanggap sa tawag ng serbisyo-publiko sa kabila ng mga hamong kaakibat nito (Thank you for heeding the call of public service despite the challenges it comes with),” she added.
The outcome of the 2025 midterm elections is especially critical for the Vice President as it will change the composition of the Senate, which is expected to convene as an impeachment trial court after the polls.
Her family’s allies—Senators Bong Go and Ronald Dela Rosa—are reelectionists.