Paolo Duterte endorses Querubin for Senate

Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte threw his support behind retired military officer Ariel Querubin in the upcoming midterm senatorial elections.

During a recent campaign event, Duterte urged voters to support the PDP-Laban slate, naming Querubin among his recommended candidates.

“PDP-Laban na mga senador. I-vote straight nyo na lang ‘yan. Tapos kulang sila ng dalawa, no? Marami naman kayong pagpipilian… Andiyan si Honasan. Andiyan si Querubin. ‘Di kayo matatalo diyan,” he said.

(Please vote straight for PDP-Laban senatorial bets. If you’re looking to fill two more slots, there are many good choices—like Honasan and Querubin. You won’t go wrong with them.)

Querubin, running as an independent, has also secured endorsements from Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Grace Poe, and JV Ejercito.

He was previously named as one of the senatorial bets endorsed by the 1Sambayan coalition.

Former Commission on Elections Commissioner and PWD Partylist nominee Atty. Rowena Guanzon has also publicly backed his Senate bid.

Querubin was involved in a failed coup attempt against former President Corazon Aquino in 1989, which reportedly resulted in a civilian casualty. He was detained for his role but later granted amnesty.

In 2006, he participated in the Fort Bonifacio standoff opposing then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which led to his re-arrest and subsequent amnesty.

He was also linked to the Manila Peninsula siege in 2007 but once again received amnesty—this time from then-President Benigno Aquino III.

Despite his past, Querubin has stood by his actions, saying his involvement in the uprisings was driven by a desire to fight corruption.

Support for party-list

Meanwhile, TRABAHO Party-list received backing from candidates in vote-rich cities.

Caloocan City officials and members of Team Aksyon at Malasakit raised the hands of TRABAHO first nominee Atty. Johanne Bautista during the Distrito Uno Grand Rally over the weekend.

The motorcade of Manila mayoral candidate Isko Moreno also included TRABAHO second nominee Ninai Chavez as they campaigned in Tondo.

Based on Comelec data, Caloocan and Manila have 765, 249 and 1,142,172 registered voters, respectively.

PBB host and alumna Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, on the other hand, portrayed in a short video a clairvoyant reading the numbers one, zero, and six to an employee distressed with low pay and long hours of work. She said those lucky numbers will give the employee a hopeful future.