Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, the youngest daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is stepping onto the national political stage to campaign for the family’s chosen Senate candidates just weeks ahead of the 2025 midterm polls.
Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed she is coordinating schedules so the Duterte family can reach more voters before election day. “Humingi kasi ako ng tulong dahil kaunti na lang yung oras at ang utos sa akin ni PRD (President Rodrigo Duterte) ay idiretso sa mga tao, idiretso na sabihin sa kanila na i-bloc vote, i-straight vote yung sampu [na kandidato],” she was quoted as saying by ABS-CBN News..
She added, “Humingi ako ng tulong sa mga kapatid ko para maraming areas ang macover in a short span of time… Pinapauwi ko yung kuya namin at pinapapalit ko yung uncle namin doon para puwedeng sumama yung kuya namin sa pangangampaniya ng mga senators.”
Sara Duterte said she also reached out to Kitty to help campaign onstage for the Senate slate. “Kinausap ko na din si Kitty na kung puwede siyang sumampa sa mga stage para mangampaniya sa mga senators at un-oo naman siya,” she shared.
The 21-year-old Kitty, daughter of Duterte and Honeylet Avanceña, has largely stayed out of electoral politics until now, despite occasional public appearances during her father’s presidency. “Nakita niyo naman mabilis siya nag-mature simula nung 2016 hanggang ngayon,” the Vice President remarked. “Duterte siya so naiintindihan niya at nasa dugo niya yung pagiging pulitiko at naiintindihan niya bakit nangangampaniya ang tao.”
With her father facing arrest and proceedings at the International Criminal Court, Sara Duterte said she is taking a more active role this campaign season. “Kagabi nag-restrategize ako kung ano dapat gagawin kasi ang balak ko sana ma’am umikot lang sa mga tao para magpasalamat,” she recounted. She said her father told her to be direct with voters: “Sinabi niya sa akin na diretsuhin ko na daw yung mga tao na bumoto straight PDP-Laban wag na magpaligoy ligoy pa. Ipaintindi [ko daw] sa mga tao bakit kailangan nila bumoto ng sampu.”
Of the ten candidates endorsed by the Dutertes, only Senators Bong Go and Ronald Dela Rosa are currently in the top 12 of pre-election surveys. Vice President Duterte also lent her support to Sen. Imee Marcos and Rep. Camille Villar, saying, “Nandiyan si Imee, nandiyan si Camille, matitino ito na tao… Hindi ako namimilit pero nandiyan sila… Iwan na namin sa mga tao.”
