Not for or against admin, VP Sara says after opposition leader tag

Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her sentiments on Saturday after an ally referred to her as the new leader of the opposition following her departure from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration.

“Sa trabaho ko at sa pagkatao ko at sa prinsipyo ko, hindi ako gumagalaw for the administration, for the opposition, or kung anuman ‘yang political na ‘yan. Ang galaw ko ay base sa kung ano ‘yung makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan, at kung ano ‘yung karapat-dapat,” Duterte said in an ambush interview in Cebu City on the sidelines of the Pasidungog awards for partners of the OVP in the implementation of various programs.

(I don't move for the administration, opposition, or any other political cause in my work, character, or principles. My actions are guided by what will benefit our fellow citizens and what is right.)

Duterte said she is currently focused on the 30-day transition plan for all the strands in the Department of Education Central Office and the projects and activities of the Office of the Vice President.

''Sa politics, wala,'' she said.

(For politics, there is none.)

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier claimed that Duterte is now the leader of the opposition after the supposed breakup of the Marcos-Duterte alliance in light of her resignation as DepEd secretary and vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Speaker Martin Romualdez, however, said Duterte should be the one making the announcement about her political plans.

“I guess we'll have to just hear it from the VP if and when the time comes for her to make statements or to make any policy or statements on policies of the national government,” Romualdez said in a press conference on Monday.

Meanwhile, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said the Liberal Party is still the "genuine opposition.”

Former president Duterte, sons preparing for 2025 elections

In the same interview, Duterte reiterated that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and her two brothers are all planning to run for the Senate in the 2025 midterm elections.

"Ah yes sa pagkakaalam ko, kung kakausapin ko ang grupo ni former President Duterte, sabi nila handa silang tumakbo, at kung kakausapin ko rin ang mas nakakatanda kong kapatid na lalake na si Pulong Duterte sabi rin niya handa rin siyang tumakbo bilang senador. At kung kausapin ko rin ang mga tao na nakapalibot sa aking nakababatang kapatid, si Baste, nasasabi rin nila na handa rin sila o naghahanda sila na tumakbo pagka senador," Sara said in Cebuano.

(Ah yes, as far as I know, if I talk to the group of former President Duterte, they say they are ready to run, and if I talk to my older brother, (Paolo) Pulong Duterte, he also says he is ready to run for senator. And if I talk to the people around my younger brother (Sebastian) Baste, they also say they are also ready or they are preparing him to run for senator.)

Twelve seats will be available in the Senate next year.

Duterte said that her mother advised her to go back to Davao City to run again as mayor.

Previously asked if she would resign as Vice President as well, Duterte said, “Walang ganon na usapan (There are no talks about that).” —VBL, GMA Integrated News