Vote for accomplishments, not just names -Sara Duterte

Vice President Sara Duterte urged Filipinos on Sunday to vote for candidates based on their capacity to serve rather than their family name.

Speaking before overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong, Duterte acknowledged her own political lineage—being the daughter of a former President, with her elder brother serving as a congressman and her younger brother as mayor of Davao City.

However, she emphasized that voters should not support candidates solely because of their surname.

"Kailangan pag-isipan natin: Duterte ito, pero ano ang maitutulong niya sa bayan? Ano ang magagawa niya para sa bayan? Hindi pwede na pabalik balik lang na apelyido ang binoboto natin," she said.

(We need to think: This candidate may be a Duterte, but what can they contribute to the country? What can they do for the people? We cannot keep voting for the same last names over and over again.)

She stressed the importance of assessing a candidate’s character, accomplishments, and ability to serve.

"Kailangan ‘yung anak, ‘yung apo, ‘yung asawa, kapag tumayo sa harap ninyo ay merong siyang sinasabi. Hindi ‘yung tatayo siya at kahit Duterte siya, kakanta na lang siya para sa inyong lahat," she added.

(If their children, grandchildren, or spouses run for office, they must have something to say. They can't just stand there and sing just because they are a Duterte.)

Duterte also warned against vote-buying, cautioning that it now comes in the form of government financial assistance or ayuda. She urged voters to scrutinize candidates’ past promises and whether they had been fulfilled.

“Tignan natin kung ano ‘yung promises na ginawa niya o sinabi niya noon. Tapos tignan natin, binigay ba niya ‘yung kanyang promise… Binigay ba niya ang pangako niya sayo o iniwan ka lang niya sa ere?” she said.

(Let's look at what they promised before. Did they keep their word, or did they leave us hanging?)

“Wag natin ibenta ang boto natin. Legitimate na ang vote buying. Nakatago na siya sa ayuda,” she said.

(Let's not sell our votes. Vote-buying is now legitimate—it’s just hidden in financial aid.)

She also advised voters to be wary of candidates who rely on popularity or entertainment to win votes.

“Ang problema sa atin ang pinipili natin ay paulit ulit, pabalik balik lang. Mahilig tayo sa sikat, mahilig tayo sa magaling kumanta [at] sumayaw dito sa stage, mahilig tayo sa nagpapa-amuse, nagpapatawa sa atin… Hindi natin tinitignan ‘yung totoong karakter sa likod ng mukha niya sa TV,” Duterte said.

(The problem is we keep choosing the same types of candidates. We vote for those who are famous, who can sing and dance, who entertain us. We fail to examine their true character.)

She urged Filipinos to be more discerning in the upcoming elections.

“Kaya siguro dapat, sa darating na halalan, pag-isipan na natin ang ating iboboto. Sabi ko nga sa inyo, nadala na ako, na-scam na ako, nabudol na ako,” she added.

(That’s why, in the upcoming elections, we should think carefully about our votes. I’ve been fooled before—I’ve been scammed and deceived.)

In Ivan Mayrina’s “24 Oras Weekend” report on Sunday, the Vice President said she was scammed during the 2022 national election campaign.

“Akala ko kasi mas gusto niya ng mas magandang bayan kasi ang plataporma namin nung tumakbo kami unity at continuity. Nadala na ako, na scam na ako, nabudol na ako. Hindi ako mag endorso ng kandidato kasi baka pagkatapos ng election, sasabihin ninyo nanaman, na scam kami ni Inday Sara,” she said.

(I thought he preferred a better nation because our platform when we ran was unity and continuity. I was taken in, I was scammed, I was deceived. I will not endorse a candidate because, after the election, you might say again that Inday Sara and I were scammed.)

Duterte and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, have formally endorsed nine senatorial candidates under the PDP-Laban banner for the 2025 midterm elections.

Mocking certain candidates

She also made a remark about candidates who were asked to buy vinegar—an apparent reference to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s previous statement mocking certain candidates.

Recalling her own experiences, Duterte joked that when she was younger, she was often sent to buy a cola soft drink from sari-sari stores.

"Coca-Cola ha! Kasi kayo naman, ‘pag sinabing coke…," she quipped, laughing.

(Coca-Cola, okay? Because I know how you react when I say "coke.")

Former President Rodrigo Duterte has accused Marcos of drug use, calling him “bangag.”

Marcos, however, has refused calls to take a hair follicle drug test, arguing that it has no relevance to the constitutional principle that public office is a public trust. — DVM, GMA Integrated News

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