Vice President Sara Duterte revealed that three members of the Duterte family, including former president Rodrigo Duterte and his sons Paolo and Sebastian, are set to contest the 2025 senate elections. The announcement was made during an interview in Cagayan de Oro City at the annual OVP Pride Reception.
“PRRD, my older brother Paolo, the current congressman, and my younger brother Sebastian—all are eager to run for senate,” the Vice President stated. When pressed for confirmation, she emphasized, “Yes, there will be three Dutertes running for senator next year.”
This political maneuver follows Vice President Duterte’s recent resignation as the Secretary of the Department of Education amid speculations of a rift with the First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and the Marcos administration. Political analysts suggest her resignation could also be a strategic move to focus on local governance in Davao City as her family members aim for national positions.
The former president and Paolo Duterte have been favorable candidates in various senatorial polls, consistently ranking within the top 12 preferred candidates. In contrast, Sebastian has notably expressed dissent towards the Marcos administration. In the 2022 national elections, Rodrigo Duterte initially pursued a senate seat but later withdrew his candidacy.
