Villar, Marcos secure support from VP Duterte in tight Senate race

Metro Manila, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed support for the Senate bids of administration bet Camille Villar and presidential sister Imee Marcos three weeks before the midterm race.

In a statement on Monday April 21, she said the two candidates shared a common vision with the 10-member slate of PDP Laban, the party of her detained father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“This vision is solid enough to break through the walls of the existing political division in the country,” said the vice president.

This comes a week after photos of Duterte seemingly endorsing Villar and Marcos circulated online. It was also a turnaround from the vice president’s earlier statement that she would not endorse anyone or be involved in the midterm elections.

Marcos and Villar are struggling to secure a sure spot in the winning circle of recent pre-election polls. The latest Pulse Asia survey showed Marcos out of the so-called “Magic 12,” while Villar is tied with a number of candidates in ranks 12th-18th.

Last week, the presidential sister released a campaign advertisement with the vice president supporting her reelection bid.

Marcos left the administration’s slate Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas in March and quickly launched a Senate investigation into the arrest of the vice president’s father who is facing charges of crimes against humanity for murder at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.

It is unclear whether the PDP-Laban will adopt Marcos and Villar, who has not left the administration slate.

Alyansa campaign manager and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said while they share the same goal of a “peaceful and prosperous” country, realizing the vision “takes more than words.”

“It requires a clear direction, steady leadership, and a track record of delivering results,” Tiangco said in a separate statement.

“What the country needs now are partners who will support the President’s legislative agenda and help accelerate key programs over the next three years. The more we get done, the more Filipinos benefit. This is not a time for obstruction but for collaboration that drives progress and sustains the momentum of Bagong Pilipinas,” he added.

Tiangco noted that the administration’s candidates are working with Marcos to lobby for “difficult but necessary reforms” to better institutions and lives.