VP Sara in 2028 elections: It’s too early to decide

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said it is too early to decide whether or not she will run in the 2028 National Elections.

“It’s really too early sa ngayon (as of the moment),” Duterte said upon inquiry by the media in The Hague, Netherlands.

“Ang advice sa akin noon was fourth quarter of 2026, December 2026 supposedly dapat merong decision. At that time, kailangan na i-setup kung ano yung kailangan na organization para sa isang kandidatura,” she added.

(I was advised before that, supposedly, a decision needs to be made by the fourth quarter of 2026, December 2026. At that time, the organization of a candidacy needs to be set up.)

When asked if she will grant the request of her family’s supporters to run in the 2028 polls, Duterte said there should be a guarantee that she will win.

“Ang pagtakbo kasi kailangan ka manalo. So, kailangan mo paniguraduhin na kapag tumakbo ka mananalo ka, because, otherwise, that will be hopeless case. Wala na yung pag-asa,” Duterte said.

(When you run, you need to win, so you need to ensure that when you run, you have to win because, otherwise, that will be a hopeless case. There is no hope.)

“So mahirap paasahin yung mga tao tapos alam mo namang hindi ka magtatagumpay sa kandidatura mo. So, kailangan paniguraduhin na mananalo ka para nabibigay yung expectation ng mga tao,” she added.

(It’s hard to keep the people’s hopes up if you know you will not succeed in your candidacy. So, you need to make sure you can be victorious so people's expectations are met.)

In January, Duterte disclosed that she was “seriously considering” running in the 2028 presidential elections.  

Meanwhile, the Vice President expressed appreciation to Senator Imee Marcos for the Senate inquiry into her father’s arrest by the International Criminal Court.

Also reacting to Marcos being left out in her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's slate, Duterte said, “It’s sad that this happened to Senator Imee Marcos, pero I truly appreciate the fact she opened Senate inquiries on the illegal arrest of President Duterte.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has left out his sister as he called for public support for Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas’ 11 senatorial candidates during a campaign rally in Laguna.  

“On that point, nagpapasalamat ako dahil napapag-usapan siya sa loob ng gobyerno hindi lang sa amin dito sa labas na nagra-rally,” the Vice President said.

(On that point, I’m thankful I'm grateful because he's being discussed within the government, not just among us out here at the rallies.)

On the possibility that Imee might be included in the PDP Laban senatorial slate, Duterte said she is not endorsing any senators in the 2025 polls. 

Former president Rodrigo Duterte endorsed nine senatorial candidates for the May 2025 polls. 

Earlier this month, the former president was arrested and brought to The Hague for his alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s deadly war on drugs. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News

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