MANILA, Philippines — During a televised address on Wednesday, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte declared her intention to run for president in the 2028 elections, despite facing ongoing impeachment proceedings and criminal investigations that could potentially bar her from holding office if she’s found guilty.
Duterte used her television appearance to launch fresh accusations of corruption and poor governance against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The two politicians formed a surprising partnership during the 2022 election cycle but have since experienced a dramatic breakdown in their relationship.
The Duterte family holds Marcos responsible for the imprisonment of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who could face trial for crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court. The court issued an arrest warrant for him in the Netherlands last year related to his controversial war on drugs.
Sara Duterte leveled charges against Marcos, claiming he failed to deliver on campaign commitments and governed poorly. She made multiple requests for public forgiveness regarding issues including government corruption, public safety problems, and rising prices.
“Politicians often avoid announcing their plans early so they wouldn’t be the target of attacks,” Duterte said. “But this administration has long destroyed my name.”
After making her presidential announcement, she departed the news conference without fielding reporters’ questions.
Marcos, who cannot seek re-election due to the single six-year term limit, has not yet responded to his vice president’s candidacy announcement or her accusations. Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro suggested that Duterte should apologize to citizens for numerous irregularities and corruption allegations she faces, as well as her frequent international travel.
“She should ask forgiveness for focusing on destroying reputations of other people instead of doing her work and helping the government,” Castro said.
Many of the charges against Duterte were part of an impeachment case she escaped last year due to a procedural error.
The House of Representatives approved impeachment proceedings against her and forwarded the matter to the Senate for trial. However, the Supreme Court later determined that the lower chamber had broken a constitutional provision allowing only one impeachment case per year against any impeachable official.
New impeachment complaints filed this month focus on her alleged improper use and management of $10.3 million in confidential funds from both the vice president’s office and her previous role as education secretary under Marcos.
Additional allegations involve unexplained wealth, including funds in personal banking accounts. An anti-corruption prosecutor has indicated his office is working to access those accounts as part of a separate criminal probe.
One impeachment complaint referenced the vice president’s threat made during a 2024 online news conference to arrange the assassination of the president, his spouse, and the House speaker if she herself were killed.
Throughout the House’s initial investigation into these allegations, Duterte declined to provide detailed responses to questions and was absent from several televised hearings.
The vice president’s attorney, Michael Poa, has stated that Duterte is ready to address these accusations and remains confident “that a fair and impartial review will demonstrate that the accusations are devoid of both factual and legal basis.”
