Vice President Sara Duterte (left) and Senator Imee Marcos. Photos from Inday Sara Dutere FB page/Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday said she was used by the Marcoses in the 2022 elections to secure their win against former Vice President Leni Robredo.
Duterte made the pronouncement as she shared in chronological order why she ran for vice president in the 2022 elections.
According to Duterte, it was in October 2021 when she received a call from Senator Imee Marcos asking her to vie for vice presidency with her brother, now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as her running mate.
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“I said, why are you requesting me to run for vice president now? And I’m happy that she was honest enough to say, ‘Because we will lose to Leni if you don’t bring in the Visayans,” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English.
“It was very straightforward, it was all about winning, sinabi niya sa akin [she told me],” she added.
Asked if this meant she was “used,” Duterte responded in the affirmative.
“Nagamit? Yes, clear naman ‘yon,” she said.
However, Duterte said that she was never “forced” to run, explaining that her decision to run for vice president was “very rational.”
In fact, Duterte even said that she did not regret being Marcos’ running mate.
“No, I don’t regret running for vice president, and I don’t regret teaming up with him either,” she said, adding that she was sure “God had a reason” for assigning her to the post.
She also explained that running for vice president allowed her to escape the scrutiny of politicians who were already gauging prospective candidates in the 2028 elections.
INQUIRER.net reached out to the President through Press Secretary Cesar Chavez for a response to Duterte’s claims, but the official replied, “No statement, no comment.”