Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon on Thursday said he does not believe Vice President Sara Duterte can win the 2028 presidential elections.
In a video message sent to media, Gadon argued that Duterte has no chance of victory because she would not be supported by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s loyalists nor by the traditional opposition led by the Liberal Party.
“Hindi ka iboboto ng mga Marcos loyalists at mga Ilokano sa buong Pilipinas. Kasi gusto mong ipatapon ang bangkay ni President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. sa West Philippine Sea. Gusto mong ipapatay si BBM, gusto mong ipapatay si Liza, gusto mong ipapatay si Martin. Paano ka naman iboboto?” Gadon said.
He added that opposition supporters would also not back Duterte, pointing to potential candidates such as former Vice President and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Senator Bam Aquino, former Senator Koko Pimentel, and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros.
Gadon further questioned Duterte’s leadership, saying she focused more on declaring her intent to run in 2028 rather than fulfilling her duties as Vice President.
“Habang ang lahat ay abala sa pagharao sa hamon ng buhay… ay abala naman si Sara sa pagdeklara ng kanyang pagka-presidente sa 2028 at napakataas pa ng kanilang palagay sa kanyang sarili na number one daw siya, siya ang pinakamalakas na kandidato,” he said.
The presidential adviser also claimed that Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, only won in 2016 because of the Marcos family’s support, noting that Marcos Jr. ran as the vice-presidential candidate alongside the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
As of press time, Vice President Duterte and the Office of the Vice President have yet to respond to Gadon’s remarks.