As VP backs some Alyansa bets, aren’t they tainted by blood? – Manuel

MANILA, Philippines — If President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. touts the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate as a lineup not associated with the bloody war on drugs and other controversial actions taken by the past administration, does Vice President Sara Duterte’s endorsement of some candidates say otherwise?

This was the question raised by Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel during an online press briefing on Monday, noting the flaws in Alyansa’s unity slate as Deputy Speaker Camille Villar and Senator Imee Marcos get Duterte’s backing.

Villar is a part of the Alyansa slate, while Senator Marcos left the lineup as she cannot bear the actions taken by the administration against Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Sa bahagi lang din ng slate ng Alyansa, tingin natin dito din pinapakita kung gaano kabuhaghag ’yong kanilang pagkakaisa, kasi no’ng simula ng kampanya ang kine-claim ng nakaupong Pangulo, ’yon daw ’yong slate na walang bahid ng pagiging konektado sa mga berdugo, sa mga duguan ’yong kamay, ganyan,” Manuel said.

(On the part of the Alyansa slate, we think this only shows how rough their version of unity is, because at the start of the campaign, the sitting President is claiming that their slate is not tainted with any connection to bloody hands, to killers, something like that.)

“So paano na ito ngayon na ’yong halimbawa, si Camille Villar ay in-endorse ni Sara Duterte, ’pag gano’n hindi na rin nagiging consistent kahit mismo ’yong nakaupong Pangulo sa mga batayan bakit ’yon ’yong bahagi ng kanyang admin slate,” he added.

(So what now that, for example, Camille Villar gets endorsed by Sara Duterte, with that, the sitting President is no longer consistent with his bases for including candidates in his admin slate.)

During the start of the campaign season for the 2025 midterm elections, Marcos shocked observers after he took on a more aggressive stance against his predecessor, former president Duterte, and the lineup that he is endorsing.

At Alyansa’s proclamation rally at the Centennial Arena in Ilocos Norte last February 11, Marcos said that none of the senatorial candidates in Alyansa are associated with Oplan Tokhang, the Duterte administration’s house-to-house campaign against illegal drugs, which gained notoriety due to bloody killings and allegations of human rights violations.

READ: Marcos on admin slate: They’re not tainted by tokhang, Pogo, pro-China

Marcos also claimed that no one from their slate is tainted by the corruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, by a pro-China stance, and by the illegal activities surrounding Philippine offshore gaming operators.

READ: Marcos hits ‘false prophet’, Pogo-linked Senate bets

But Duterte recently formalized her endorsement of Villar and Senator Marcos, the President’s elder sister, in separate campaign advertisements.

Manuel hopes what happened with Alyansa and Duterte’s endorsements will make people realize the real basis for candidates to come together.

“So ’yon, parang gulo-gulo na eh, ’di ba? Kaya sana mas maging maliwanag sa mga kababayan natin kung ano ba talaga ’yong basis bakit nagsama-sama ‘yong mga ’to, para ba talaga sa taumbayan o para lang doon sa sino yung mga nage-endorse sa kanila?” he asked.

(It seems to be all confusing now. That’s why I hope it would be clear to our people what these candidates’ bases are for being together and making an alliance. Is it about the people or for those who are endorsing them?)

Alyansa, on the other hand, has thanked Duterte for backing Villar, with campaign manager and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco saying that those endorsing their candidates share their vision of a peaceful and prosperous country.

Tiangco, in a separate statement on Monday, said that turning this vision, however, requires “steady leadership and a track record of delivering results.”

“We are glad that they share our goal for a peaceful and prosperous Philippines. But turning that vision into reality takes more than words. It requires a clear direction, steady leadership, and a track record of delivering results,” he said, after being asked by reporters regarding Duterte’s endorsement of Villar.

“Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas stands on performance, not promises. Our candidates are working with President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to push for difficult but necessary reforms that will strengthen our institutions and improve lives,” he added.