MANILA, Philippines — In a dramatic political declaration, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has formally announced her intention to seek the presidency in the 2028 elections, setting the stage for a contentious political battle amid ongoing impeachment proceedings and criminal investigations that could potentially disqualify her from public office.
The announcement came during a televised address on Wednesday where Duterte launched scathing criticisms against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her former electoral ally in the 2022 elections. The vice president accused Marcos of betraying campaign promises and presiding over governmental mismanagement, while simultaneously requesting public forgiveness for systemic issues including corruption, security concerns, and economic inflation.
Duterte’s presidential ambitions face significant legal hurdles. Multiple impeachment complaints have been filed against her in Congress, focusing on allegations of mishandling $10.3 million in confidential funds during her tenure as both vice president and education secretary. Additional accusations include unexplained wealth in personal bank accounts, currently under investigation by anti-graft prosecutors.
Perhaps most strikingly, one impeachment complaint cites Duterte’s 2024 threat against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, in which she suggested they would be killed if she were assassinated.
The political rift between Duterte and Marcos represents a complete breakdown of their previous alliance. Duterte and her family have directly blamed Marcos for the detention of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces potential trial at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands for crimes against humanity related to his deadly anti-drug campaign.
Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro responded by suggesting Duterte should apologize for her own alleged irregularities and frequent international travels rather than attacking others. Meanwhile, Duterte’s legal representative, Michael Poa, maintains that the vice president is prepared to confront all allegations and expects a fair review will demonstrate their lack of factual and legal foundation.
The Supreme Court previously intervened in an earlier impeachment attempt, ruling that the House of Representatives violated constitutional procedures by processing multiple cases against a single official within one year.