Vice President Sara Duterte announced her bid for the presidency in 2028 as the House of Representatives (HOR) is set to refer the new impeachment complaints against her to the Committee on Justice today.
“I offer my life, strength, and future in the service of our nation,” Duterte said on Wednesday morning in a press briefing in Manila.
“Let us bring back courage, compassion for God, people and every Filipino family,” she added.
In a brief statement that lasted no more than two minutes, the vice president began by apologizing for helping President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to office in 2022.
She also apologized for corrupt politicians in government, high prices of commodities and services, low wages, food insecurity, lacking health care system and other problems under the Marcos government.
“I fear for the children and succeeding generations, the homeless, and for poor Filipinos who have no choice but drown in our country,” she added.
Duterte’s announcement marks another chapter in the rivalry between the two top political dynasties in the Philippines.
Duterte was running mate to Marcos Jr. in a successful tandem called “UniTeam” (Unity Team). Their political alliance lasted for a year before Duterte started publicly criticizing Marcos over policy issues.
She eventually resigned her education secretary post, signalling a deep rift in what was once regarded a formidable alliance between two families that could rule Philippine politics until 2034.
Marcos’ allies then started depriving Duterte’s offices of confidential and intelligence funds that are alleged to have been spuriously spent by the vice president.
Duterte’s failure to explain her questionable expenditures let to the filing of four impeachment complaints against her last year.
Duterte also threatened to have Marcos, the first lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos, and cousin and former HOR Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez assassinated should something bad happen to her.
The Marcos-dominated HOR impeached Duterte early in 2025 but the Senate as presided by Francis Escudero refused to conduct a trial against her.
Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte is also set to face the International Criminal Court on Monday for confirmation of charges for alleged crimes against humanity. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
