PDP proclamation rally slams Marcos, vows to protect Duterte

Metro Manila, Philippines - “Pilipinas, Duterte pa rin.”

It seemed like a presidential rather than a midterm election campaign - now with a disbanded Uniteam - as senatorial candidates in the proclamation rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) lashed out at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and vowed to protect Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, Feb. 13.

Eight of the nine candidates in the seven-hour rally at the upscale Club Filipino in San Juan City mainly reacted to an earlier campaign speech of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the administration’s proclamation rally as he slammed the Duterte administration and its allies.

Hitting back at Marcos

Reelectionist Senator Bato dela Rosa didn’t mince words against Marcos, who said his candidates had no trace of blood from the drug war - an allusion to the Duterte administration’s anti-narcotics campaign that resulted in extrajudicial killings.

Dela Rosa was chief implementer of the drug war as head of the Philippine National Police.

“Kung iyong aking kamay ay may bahid ng dugo, hindi ko po iyan ikinakahiya,” he said.

[Translation: If my hands are blood stained, I am not ashamed.]

Actor Philip Salvador backed Dela Rosa.

“Ang kamay niya kung nagkaroon man ng bahid ng dugo noon, dugo ito ng mga walang hiya, hindi ito ng matitinong tao. Iyan si Senador Bato dela Rosa,” said Salvador.

[Translation: If his hands were blood stained, it was the blood of the shameless, not of decent people. That’s Senator Bato dela Rosa.]

In December, the House quad committee, which has been leading a probe on Duterte’s drug war and illegal offshore gaming operations, recommended the filing of criminal charges against the former president, Dela Rosa and other allies linked to the drug campaign.

The International Criminal Court is also conducting an investigation on alleged crimes against humanity of the Duterte administration.

In a chance interview, Dela Rosa also fended off allegations that he is pro-China.

Marcos said none of his candidates praised Beijing amid its harassment of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.

“Willing ako magpakamatay diyan sa West Philippine Sea kung sabihin nila pro-China ako. Willing ako makipag-giyera diyan sa West Philippine Sea…hinahamon ko na nga sila kung gusto nila bigyan ko sila ng baril at bala, atakehin natin iyong nangbu-bully sa West Philippine Sea,” he said.

[Translation: I’m willing to die to defend the West Philippine Sea if they say I am pro-China. I am ready to go to war…I’m challenging them already. If they want, I’ll give them guns and bullets and we’ll attack bullies in the West Philippine Sea.]

Vic Rodriguez, ex-Marcos executive secretary and PDP guest candidate, also criticized his former boss.

“Panay blangko ang bicameral conference committee report. Sinasalaula tayo ng administrasyon ni Bongbong Marcos,” he said, referring to issues raised against the General Appropriations Act.

[Translation: The bicameral conference committee report is full of blanks. The administration of Bongbong Marcos is insulting us]

Rodriguez was among those who took the budget controversy to the Supreme Court, challenging its constitutionality.

Protecting Dutertes

Meanwhile, some candidates hit moves to oust the vice president from office.

“Gusto niyo ba ma-impeach si VP Sara?...Gusto niyo ba labanan ang rehimeng Marcos sa 2028? Ipanalo niyo ang mga senador namin,” lawyer Jayvee Hinlo said.

[Translation: Do you want to impeach VP Sara? Do you want to fight the Marcos regime in 2028? Help us win our senators.]

SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, also raised a constitutional issue on the looming impeachment trial.

Senate President Chiz Escudero earlier said the trial may begin in the 20th Congress after the State of the Nation Address in July.

“Kailangan niyo po ng abogado na makakarating sa 20th Congress… Kung wala po kayong dadalhin na abogado doon, our country will go to the dogs,” he said.

[Translation: You need a lawyer who can make it to the 20th Congress… If you don't bring a lawyer there, our country will go to the dogs.]

Fighting corruption, other platforms

The candidates also bared their legislative agenda, with ending corruption as a common theme.

In a recorded video message, detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy said he would push for a law restoring the death penalty for corrupt officials, a sentiment echoed by Rodriguez.

“Ang pera ng taumbayan ay para sa pampublikong kapakanan. Hindi sa bulsa ng kahit sinuman,” he said.

[Translation: The people's money is for the public good, not for anyone's pocket.]

Reelectionist senator Bong Go touted his health reform programs, and called out the government health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for its excess funds yet short on some services.

“Ang dami nilang polisiya na anti-poor e sobra-sobra naman ang pondo nila…Iyon mga ipinangako nila patuloy ko pong babantayan para sa Pilipino dahil para sa akin ang PhilHealth, para sa health ng mga Pilipino,” he said.

[Translation: They have so many anti-poor policies, yet their funds are excessive... The promises they made, I will continue to monitor for the Filipino people because, for me, PhilHealth is for the health of Filipinos]

The rally ended past 9 p.m. in a lengthy speech of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who took a swipe at Marcos.