Sara Duterte 'seriously considering' 2028 presidential bid

Vice President Sara Duterte disclosed on Tuesday that she is now “seriously considering” running in the 2028 presidential elections.

Duterte said this amid her “private trip” in Japan over the weekend where she also visited groups of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

“Yes, ma'am. We are seriously considering,” the Vice President answered when asked if there is a possibility that she will run for President in the 2028 polls.

Duterte did not specifically mention what position she is vying for. She, however, remains on top of the list of preferred presidential candidates in the 2028 elections, based on surveys.

Prior to this, Duterte had been asked by members of the media regarding her political plans for 2028, but she had kept herself away from speculations, saying she would only focus on her work as Vice President.

Based on the interview posted by SMNI on social media, Duterte said that what is currently happening in the country should not continue.

Duterte is currently facing three impeachment complaints, all linked to her alleged misuse of public and confidential funds of P612 million.

“I really believe that our country will be great,” she said.

“Mahirap siyang ipaintindi sa ating mga kababayan and mahirap ‘yung kailangan natin gawin kasi you really have to stand firm especially with government policies para maayos siya. Pero paniwala ko, kung magkaisa lang ‘yung mga tao, alam natin kung saan tayo papunta, magagawa ng ating bayan,” she added.

(It’s difficult to make our countrymen understand and what we need to do is difficult because you really have to stand firm especially with government policies in order to fix it. But I believe, if the people are united, we know where we are going.)

Duterte made the remark ahead of the nationwide rally organized by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) on Monday, which drew 1.8 million people nationwide.

The INC held the National Rally for Peace to support President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s stance against impeaching Duterte.

Malacañang said Tuesday that the INC rally did not alter Marcos’ position against efforts to impeach the Vice President. 

'Duterte free to run'

Vice President Sara Duterte is free to run for President in 2028 but her reasons for doing so should be verified, administration lawmakers said Tuesday.

House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V and House dangerous drugs panel and Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers made the response in the aftermath of Duterte’s statement that she is considering running for President in 2028, saying she cannot tolerate the country’s backsliding under the present administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

“On backsliding, parang makikita mo po natin sa ating mga statistics na hindi naman po [ganun ang sitwasyon]. Umaangat naman po tayo. Pero if she decides to run, then kahit sino naman po karapatan na tumakbo,” Ortega told reporters.

(Based on statistics, there is no backsliding. We are progressing. But if she decides to run, anybody has the right to do so.)

“Nag-iisip na nga rin po ako tumakbo sa 2028, but not for President,” Ortega added.

(I am even thinking of running for public office for 2028, but not for President.)

Barbers, for his part, said that it would serve the Vice President well to back up her statements with evidence.

“We respect the opinion of the Vice President in her desire to serve the country. Lahat naman po tayo may karapatan na magserbisyo, magbigay ng serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan,” Barbers said in a separate interview.

(All of us have the right to serve the people, give service to our people.)

“Doon naman sa punto na nagbabackslide [tayo], this has to be substantiated by data and proof because we have to be fair. Tignan muna natin kung ano yung mga basihan ng ating statements, especially kapag tungkol ito sa performance ng ating gobyerno,” Barbers added.

(On the point of backsliding, we first have to see the basis for that, especially when it concerns the government’s performance.)

The Vice President is facing three impeachment complaints in the House of Representatives, anchored on her alleged misuse of confidential funds.

Prior to the filing of the impeachment complaints, the House inquiry on the Vice President’s confidential fund has revealed that based on Office of the Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) under Duterte’s submissions to the Commission on Audit (COA), the OVP and DepEd used P500 million and P112.5 million worth of confidential funds from December 2022 from September 2023, with acknowledgement receipts containing wrong dates, signatories with no birth records, unnamed signatures, non-readable signatories, among others.

Not a single impeachment has been forwarded to the Office of the Speaker Martin Romualdez so far, an action that would require the Speaker to refer the complaint to the House Justice panel within 10 session days.

Congress, however, will not be in session from February 7 to June 1 to give way to the May 2025 polls campaign period.

In a separate statement, former senator Leila de Lima called on the House to stand for accountability by moving to impeach the Vice President.

“The complainants have fulfilled their duty. Representing various citizens united by courage and principle, they have filed the first impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte for grave and impeachable offenses. Now, the responsibility falls squarely on the House leadership to act with decisiveness and integrity,” said de Lima, who is the spokesperson of the first impeachment complaint against Duterte.

“To delay action would not only betray the people’s demand for truth and accountability but would also send a dangerous signal—that the House of Representatives is willing to tolerate gross incompetence, abuse of power, and the mismanagement of public funds. The time to act is now. We urge the House to proceed with transparency, urgency, and integrity,” de Lima added.—with a report from Llanesca Panti/RF, GMA Integrated News