Sara Duterte warns vs cheating in 2025 polls

Vice President Sara Duterte has warned the public of possible cheating in the 2025 May midterm elections following the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, by virtue of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"Mag-ingat kayo ha (Be careful). I warned you about the [2025 national] budget. I'm warning all of you about election cheating," the Vice President told reporters on Tuesday evening.

Asked who should be held accountable for the elder Duterte's arrest, the Vice President said it is the entire Marcos administration.

"Kasi sobrang lakas ng block voting ngayon. Lumalakas at nag-i-i-snowball 'yung block voting ng nine candidates ng PDP Laban," the Vice President said, referring to the political party led by her father.

(Block voting right now is strong. Block voting of nine PDP Laban candidates is getting strong and snowballing.)

"Tanggalin man nila si President, former President Duterte sa equations at midterm elections, nandiyan 'yung taong bayan at lumalakas 'yung block voting ng PDP nine candidates. Pero sinasabi ko sa inyo kanina, mag-ingat kayo sa election cheating. Matindi ito," she added.

(Even if they remove former President Duterte from the equation in the midterm elections, there are still the people and the strengthening of block voting of the PDP nine candidates. But I'm warning you about election cheating. It's going to be serious.)

The former President endorsed nine senatorial candidates for the May 2025 polls.

Meanwhile, the administration slate has 12 senatorial bets.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. had urged Filipinos to vote for his senatorial candidates as none of them were involved in killings during the war on drugs, corruption during the pandemic, and support for China on the West Philippine Sea issue.

The Vice President also said issues surrounding her father’s arrest are also related to the 2028 presidential elections.

"This is all about the 2028 elections. And I'm warning you, kung meron man 2028 elections. Nakita niyo na, 'di ba, sinimulan nila sa people's initiative. Hindi sila nagtagumpay kasi umalma 'yung mga tao. Imagine mo, bibilihin 'yung pagkatao mo para sa kagustuhan nila na hindi umalis sa puwesto," she said.

(This is all about the 2028 elections. And I'm warning you, should there be 2028 elections. As you can see, they started it with the people's initiative. They did not succeed because people complained. Imagine, they buy you in order to remain in position.)

GMA News Online has requested comment from Malacañang regarding the Vice President's statements, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for the elder Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity, paving the way for his arrest on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

From there, he was taken to Villamor Airbase and later boarded a plane that took off late Tuesday evening for the Netherlands, where the ICC is located. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

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