Amid the Duterte arrest frenzy, senatorial bets continue campaign for Eleksyon 2025

Notwithstanding the country's preoccupation with the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC), candidates for senator in the May 2025 elections pursued voters by visiting various areas and expressing their views on issues online.

In a Facebook post, Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago senatorial bet Allen Capuyan said the ICC case was a “deceptive political weapon” started by “Communist Terrorist Groups and their allied organizations.”

He warned of efforts to “erode state authority, sow distrust, and cripple national security efforts.”

A former appointee of Duterte to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Capuyan said the ex-president was an inspiration to the Filipinos.

Partido Maharlika candidate Michael Tapado, meanwhile, took on a neutral stance.

“Wala kaming kinakampihan sa walang katuturang away pulitika. Ang focus namin mga pambansang proyekto na gagawin at ginagawa na namin sa bayan,” he said in a Facebook post.

(We are taking no sides in this senseless political war. Our focus is on the national projects that we will be doing and are currently doing.)

Lawyer Angelo de Alban conducted campaign activities at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

De Alban participated in a dialogue with students and discussed his platforms.

Independent candidate Ariel Querubin visited Marawi City, where he served as Brigade Commander in 2006.

He took time to pass through some integral areas in Marawi, including the Grand Mosque and the Dansalan Bato Mosque of Marawi, and the Marawi City ground zero.

Querubin also had a courtesy call with Mayor Majul Gandamra of Marawi City on his visit.

 “Ang bisitang ito ay isang pagkakataon para ipahayag ko ang aking pasasalamat sa suporta na aking natamo mula sa komunidad sa buong panahon ng aking serbisyo at upang talakayin ang mga paraan upang matulungan ang mga nangangailangan,” he said.

(This visit is an opportunity for me to express my gratitude for the support that I received from the community throughout my service and to discuss ways to help the marginalized.)

Independent candidate Heidi Mendoza announced that she will be focusing on her digital campaign. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News

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