Bad Habits in Voting: Sara Duterte Calls for Change
2 min read
APRIL 26,2025
Bad Habits in Voting: Vice President Sara Duterte is calling on Filipino voters to reflect and make better choices as the 2025 midterm elections approach. Fresh from a three-week trip to The Hague, where she finalized the legal team for former President Rodrigo Duterte’s case at the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Vice President returned to the Philippines with a renewed message of change — starting with how Filipinos vote.
Bad Habits in Voting: Sara Duterte Highlights Common Voting Mistakes: Choosing Based on Popularity and Political Dynasties
Speaking during campaign sorties in Tondo and Quiapo, Vice President Duterte reminded Filipinos about the persistent “bad habits” that often influence election results.
She pointed out three major issues:
- Voting based on political dynasty names rather than a candidate’s track record.
- Selling votes or exchanging support for cash or short-term favors.
- Choosing candidates based on entertainment during campaigns — such as singing, dancing, or making people laugh — instead of evaluating their capability to lead.
“Pangalawa, iyong pagbibigay natin ang ating pagkatao para sa pera at para sa pagbili ng boto. At pangatlo, iyong hindi na natin tinatanong dahil kung sino lang ‘yung naaalala natin na napasaya tayo, napatawa tayo, sumayaw at kumanta noong kampanya, iyon lang ‘yung naaalala natin,” Vice President Duterte emphasized.
She stressed that real change in the Philippines begins not with politicians but with the voters themselves, urging everyone to be more discerning and responsible.
VP Sara Duterte Stands Firm Amid Impeachment and Pushes for New Leaders
Despite facing her own political challenges — including an impeachment trial tied to the spending of Confidential Funds — Duterte remained confident. She mentioned that her legal team is “more than confident” in winning the case.
Meanwhile, she continues to campaign for her endorsed candidates for the Senate:
- Senator Imee Marcos (through the viral “ITIM” campaign),
- Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar,
- And other PDP-Laban senatorial bets.
Duterte shared that these candidates share her vision of a “peaceful and prosperous Philippines.”
RELATED STORY: Philippine Elections 2025: VP Duterte Unites with Villar, Marcos
Interestingly, while she is actively campaigning, the Vice President clarified that she is not running for any position in the 2025 elections. Her main focus, she said, is to remind Filipinos to change their voting behaviors.
In a notable move, Sara Duterte also called on voters not to support the candidates backed by President Bongbong Marcos, who has endorsed the senatorial line-up of Alyansa Para Sa Pagbabago.
“Dapat baguhin natin iyong ugali natin sa pagboto para meron tayong nakikita na mga bagong leaders at mayroon tayong nakikita na pagbabago sa ating bayan,” she urged.
As the country heads closer to election day, Duterte’s message is clear: Filipino voters hold the real power to create lasting change — and it begins by breaking old habits at the ballot box.
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