Palace: Duterte attacks on opposition bets seem ‘very effective’

President Rodrigo Duterte greets the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial candidates at a campaign rally at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum in Batangas on April 17, 2019. (Photo by RICHARD MADELO / Presidential Photographers Division)

Updated @ 11:12 p.m., May 6, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The attacks of President Rodrigo Duterte against senatorial aspirants of the opposition seemed to be “very effective,” Malacañang said Monday after administration-backed candidates dominated the recent surveys.

“It appears, if you will consider the ratings of those he has endorsed, it would seem that it is very effective. Why he is doing it? I think that’s his style. It’s part of the campaign,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Duterte, chair of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas bg Bayan (PDP-Laban) has dedicated ample time in his campaign speeches for attacking the senatorial candidates of the opposition’s Otso Diretso.

READ: Duterte: ‘Otso’ bets painting admin rivals black to appear white

In a Pulse Asia survey, whose results were released on April 23, eight of the 12 senatorial aspirants who made it to the “Magic 12” were endorsed by the President.

Panelo said back then that this showed the President’s “strong” endorsement appeal.

Despite the favorable ratings of administration-backed senatorial candidates, Panelo said the President would resume campaigning for his senatorial slate a week before the elections.

He said Duterte would be at the PDP-Laban campaign in Bohol on Thursday and at the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) mitin de avance in Davao City on Thursday.

The President is also expected to attend PDP-Laban’s mitin de avance in Manila on Saturday.

What’s in it for Malacañang if most of the President’s Senate choices would win the elections?

“Well, every election to a President means something to him because those who will be elected in the Congress will have to be partners in the administration of the government,” Panelo said.

“Kaya mas magandang iyong mga naruroon ay iyong tutulong sa kaniya. And iyong mga ini-endorse niya, ang feeling niya roon, these are the people that can help me pursue the goal towards uplifting the lives of our countrymen,” he added.

Panelo went on to say that Malacañang was elated over the endorsement of administration-backed candidates by religious group El Shaddai.

“Eh siyempre, kung in-endorse iyong in-endorse mo di siyempre matutuwa ka. Natural lamang iyon. Eh kung hindi kasama, eh you have also no reason to be sad or to feel bad. Iyon ang demokrasya natin eh. Kung sino ang gusto mong i-endorse, you’re free to do so,” he said.

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