Marcos Jr. on Dutertes’ Senate bid: It’s a free country

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte and his children are free to seek any electoral post in the coming elections, but the “real situation” will emerge only after the filing of certificates of candidacy in October, President Marcos said yesterday.

Vice President Sara Duterte, who announced her resignation from the Cabinet on June 19, revealed last Tuesday that her father and her brothers Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte would run for the Senate in next year’s midterm elections.

The Vice President, who quit as Marcos’ education chief, said Sebastian may seek the presidency in 2028. She added that her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, had asked her to run for mayor of Davao City again.

Asked in an ambush interview to react to the Dutertes’ political plans, Marcos replied: “It’s a free country. They’re allowed to do what it is that they want. I really have no reaction to it.”

“Besides, it’s still early. We really won’t know any of these things. We’re talking about 2028. A lot will happen between now and 2028,” he added.

Marcos noted that the “only real situation” would become clear during the filing of certificates of candidacy in October.

“Then we will see really who will run. Who will they align with? What are the parties involved? Which parties are in alliance with which? We will see that in October. So, all of these announcements, well, let’s see if they will push through come October,” the President said.

Marcos also claimed that nothing has changed in the UniTeam, the coalition that carried him and Duterte during the 2022 polls, despite the Vice President’s resignation from the Cabinet.

The President noted that Duterte came to the UniTeam as a candidate of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, but eventually left the party. However, the parties that were aligned with UniTeam in 2022 are still with the coalition, he added.

“That’s why I’m saying, it depends on who she (Duterte) will side with. That will determine whether or not – that will be the biggest change in the UniTeam if Inday Sara leaves UniTeam. That would be the biggest change if ever,” Marcos said.

“But the party has not changed... We’re