The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) staged its Miting de Avance at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on Thursday, just four days before the May 12 polls.
Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, the youngest daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, energized the crowd with an emotional speech, urging Filipinos to rally behind the party’s candidates.
“Thank you so much for your support for PRRD, our family, and the DuterTen,” she said. “I believe it says a lot about your trust and strategy to choose these public servants as the next leaders of the Philippines.”
Kitty also shared a touching moment with her father before his arrest and transfer to The Hague, Netherlands, over alleged crimes against humanity.
“The night before they took him, we still slept beside each other,” she recalled. “I asked him, ‘Dada, what’s going to happen to you?’”
“As a father who didn’t want his baby girl to worry, he just said his usual line: ‘Ah, that’s nothing. Don’t believe that.’”
She added: “To my Dada Rody, who will be watching this later... know that I remain unafraid, unbent, and unswayed — just like you. Your battle is my battle.”
Thousands of supporters gathered at Liwasang Bonifacio, where Vice President Sara Duterte was also expected to address the crowd.
Senator Robin Padilla, PDP Laban president, introduced the so-called “DuterTen” senatorial slate: Christopher “Bong” Go, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Rodante Marcoleta, Jimmy Bondoc, Victor Rodriguez, Apollo Quiboloy, Richard Mata, Raul Lambino, Philip Salvador and Jayvee Hinlo.
The candidates used their limited time on stage to slam the Marcos administration for Duterte’s arrest. Rodante Marcoleta, in particular, accused the government of serious violations.
“Don’t let yourselves be fooled. Think about the future of our country,” Marcoleta said.
“There was no due process. Look at what they did — they plan to remove the Vice President. They wouldn’t even allow President Duterte to return if it were up to them.”
Marcoleta also accused the administration of mishandling nearly P2 billion in financial aid meant for 27 million impoverished Filipinos.
Duterte was arrested on 11 March at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon his return from Hong Kong. He was immediately flown to The Hague, where the International Criminal Court (ICC) is headquartered. He faces charges of murder qualified as a crime against humanity, allegedly committed between 1 November 2011, and 16 March 2019.