Malina, 18 Feb : Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday formally announced that she will contest the 2028 presidential election, positioning her campaign as both a personal reckoning and a political turning point after a dramatic fallout with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a livestreamed address, Duterte said her decision was shaped by what she described as a deeper understanding of public duty.
“I am Sara Duterte, and I am running for president in the Philippines,” she declared.
“It took me 47 years to understand that my life was never meant to be only mine.”
“I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation.”
From alliance to rivalry
Duterte and Marcos ran on a joint ticket in the 2022 national elections, securing a landslide victory that united two of the country’s most influential political families. However, their partnership later deteriorated, culminating in Duterte’s resignation from the Cabinet and an increasingly public exchange of accusations.
In her latest remarks, Duterte distanced herself from her earlier support for Marcos, expressing regret over the alliance.
“I cannot kneel before each and every Filipino to beg for forgiveness,” she said.
“I am sorry if there is blatant abuse of our institutions for the personal interests of politicians.”
“I am sorry that the prices of basic goods continue to rise while the income of every family remains insufficient.”
She cited corruption, inflation, and gaps in healthcare and food security as urgent national concerns.
Legal and political pressures
The vice president’s announcement comes at a politically sensitive moment. She is facing multiple impeachment complaints in the House of Representatives, including allegations of misuse of public funds and accusations that she threatened the president. Duterte has denied all allegations. A previous impeachment case was dismissed by the Supreme Court on procedural grounds.
Tensions escalated further following the arrest of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, by Philippine authorities acting in coordination with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Rodrigo Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity in connection with his anti-drug campaign from 2016 to 2022, during which thousands of suspects were killed in police operations and vigilante-style attacks. He is due to appear in The Hague for a pre-trial hearing.
Reacting to the arrest last year, Sara Duterte described it as “oppression and persecution.”
Rodrigo Duterte has defended his policies, stating in earlier testimony:
“I did what I had to do… I did it for my country.”
“No apologies, no excuses.”
High stakes for 2028
Political analysts say the 2028 race could reshape the country’s power structure, particularly as President Marcos is constitutionally limited to a single six-year term and cannot seek re-election.
Cleve Arguelles, a political scientist and chief executive of WR Numero Research, suggested the timing of Duterte’s announcement may also serve a strategic purpose within her political bloc.
“When legal risk rises, so does the temptation to defect early to save one’s own skin,” Arguelles said, adding that the declaration could help consolidate support amid uncertainty.
Opinion surveys in recent years have indicated that Duterte remains a formidable political figure, benefiting in part from the enduring support base of her father.
With impeachment proceedings pending, an international trial unfolding in The Hague, and a widening split within the country’s political elite, Duterte’s presidential bid signals that the contest for 2028 is already taking shape — years before voters head to the polls.
