Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Atty. Larry Gadon warned that Senator Imee Marcos could lose voter support after being endorsed by Vice President Sara Duterte for the 2025 midterm elections.
In a Politiko report, Gadon called the endorsement a “kiss of death,” arguing that the Duterte name no longer holds strong political sway. “Isang malaking pagkakamali kay Sen. Imee Marcos na magpa-endorse siya kay VP Inday Sara dahil ito ay isang kiss of death… dahil wala naman talagang tao ang mga Duterte,” Gadon said.
Gadon cited past election outcomes to support his claim, pointing to the failed bids of Alan Peter Cayetano in the 2016 vice presidential race and Salvador Panelo in the 2022 Senate elections—both of whom were endorsed by the Dutertes.
“Walang boto ang mga Duterte,” he asserted, recalling how Cayetano, despite massive backing, only garnered five million votes. “Ngayon itong isa pang example dyan itong si Sal Panelo… lahat ng advertisement ay kasama niya si Duterte at sinasabi ‘Sal Panelo panalo,’ pero anong nangyari? Talo. Isa sa mga kulelat.”
Gadon further revealed that some Marcos loyalist leaders were upset by Imee’s alignment with the Dutertes, especially given past controversies involving VP Sara. He recalled issues such as Duterte’s alleged comments about removing the remains of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. from the Libingan ng mga Bayani and even threatening the lives of key Marcos figures.
“Itong ginawa ni Imee na nagpa-endorse kay Sara, mas malaki ang mawawala sa kanya. Kasi marami ang nagagalit na mga Marcos loyalist,” he said. “Eh bakit kinakampihan pa rin ni Imee?”
While stating that he remains a friend of Senator Imee Marcos, Gadon admitted that many Ilocano supporters have withdrawn their support. “Napakarami kong nakaka-usap na mga Ilokano at mga Marcos loyalist leaders na ayaw siyang iboto at kinakampanya pa na huwag siyang iboto.”
He also criticized the current rallies being held under the Dutertes’ “Maisug” movement, saying they are not attracting significant public support. Gadon went on to claim that VP Sara opted to run for vice president in 2022 instead of president because she allegedly feared defeat.
“Kaya nga matigas ang kanyang paninindigan noon na hindi tatakbong presidente… pero sinabi sa kanya na ‘sikat ka lang ngayong Sara dahil kasi anak ka ng presidente… makakalimutan ka na ng mga tao,’” Gadon shared. He added that her decision to run with then-presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was a strategic move with minimal campaign spending.
