Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, February 18, formally announced that she will run for president in the 2028 national elections, positioning herself as the standard-bearer of her father’s political legacy amid intensifying political tensions.
“Ako si Sara Duterte, tatakbo sa 2028 Elections (I am Sara Duterte. I will run in the 2028 elections),” Duterte declared, confirming long-running speculation about her political ambitions.
She said her campaign would revive the “Tapang at Malasakit” (“Courage and Compassion”) brand associated with her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Budget dispute and impeachment battle
In her announcement, Duterte cited her opposition to the proposed 2025 national budget as a turning point in her political journey.
“Dahil hindi ko kinayang maging bahagi ng 2025 national budget na tadtad ng katiwalian, pinili kong umalis sa gabinete—kahit na alam ko na, mula pa noong 2023, na ang magiging kapalit nito ay ang aking impeachment,” she said, alleging the spending plan was riddled with corruption.
Duterte resigned from the Cabinet and was later impeached amid a bitter political feud with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.. However, the Supreme Court of the Philippines eventually dismissed the impeachment case on procedural grounds.
Under the Philippine Constitution, impeachment cases are tried by the Senate, and a conviction would bar an official from holding public office. Duterte’s removal from office could have derailed her potential 2028 presidential bid.
Escalating Duterte-Marcos rift
The once-powerful alliance between the Duterte and Marcos political clans began unraveling within weeks of their 2022 electoral victory and erupted into open conflict in 2025. The feud has since dominated the country’s political landscape.
Just days before Duterte’s presidential announcement, the House of Representatives justice committee dismissed two impeachment complaints against Marcos, citing insufficient substance.
Meanwhile, members of the Philippine clergy filed another impeachment complaint against Duterte on February 9 — the third lodged against her within just over a week.
ICC Proceedings loom over FPRRD
VP Sara declaration also comes as Former President Rodrigo Duterte prepares to attend a pre-trial hearing before the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands. The confirmation of charges hearing, scheduled over four days, will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial over alleged crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s anti-drug campaign.
The proceedings add another layer of complexity to the already volatile political climate.
Broader political fallout
Marcos, for his part, is grappling with political headwinds stemming from a controversy over allegedly fraudulent flood-control projects that reportedly cost taxpayers billions of pesos. The issue has ensnared allies and critics alike, including a congressman who is also the president’s cousin, after Marcos highlighted the scandal in a July national address.
Despite the turbulence, Duterte framed her candidacy as a call to national service.
“I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation,” she said.
The 2028 election is expected to be one of the most closely watched contests in recent Philippine history, with political dynasties, legal battles, and corruption allegations shaping the road ahead.
