Vice President Sara Duterte announces presidential bid for 2028 elections
Vice President Sara Duterte has formally announced her decision to run for president in the 2028 elections.
Duterte made the announcement in a press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 18. “It took me 47 years to understand that my life was never meant to be only mine. Unlike others, I may not have been born just to chase happiness. For a long time, I questioned the weight of responsibility to my family, to my country, to everyone who called on me. Today, I have peacefully accepted that my life is unlike any other,” she began.
The VP then took a swipe at her 2022 elections "UniTeam" running-mate, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. “Sa unang mga buwan ng aming mga termino, nakita ko na ang kawalan ng katapatan ni Bongbong Marcos Jr. sa mga pangakong binitawan noong kampanya pati na sa kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin para sa bayan. Dahil hindi ko kinaya na maging bahagi ng 2025 national budget na tadtad ng katiwalian, pinili kong umalis sa kabinete dahil alam ko na mula pa noong 2023 na ang magiging kapalit ay ang aking impeachment.”
She apologized for helping Marcos with his presidential bid in 2022. “Mga kababayan, humihingi ako ng pahumanhin. Patawad kung tinulungan ko mahalal si BBM bilang pangulo ng ating bansa," she said.
"Patawad kung hanggang ngayon ay marami pa ring Pilipino ang nalulunod sa baha ng dahil sa malawakang korupsyon. Patawad kung lantaran ang pang-aabuso ng ating mga institusyon para sa pansariling interes ng mga pulitiko. Patawad kung patuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin habang nananatiling kapos ang kita ng bawat pamilya. Patawad kung wala man lang tayong tunay na seguridad sa pagkain. Patawad kung may nagkakasakit at binabawian bigla ng buhay dahil sa kakulangan ng maayos at epektibong healthcare system.”
“Hindi ako kailanman natakot sa pagsira nila sa pangalan ko," she continued. "Ngunit may takot ako para sa ating mga anak. May takot ako para sa susunod na henerasyon. May takot ako para sa mga kababayan nating walang bahay sa ibang bansa, walang ibang pasaporte, walang ibang matatakbuhan kundi ang Pilipinas kahit ito’y patuloy na nalulugmok sa kahirapan.”
“I cannot kneel before each and every Filipino to beg for forgiveness. Instead, I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation. Mga kababayan, ibalik natin ang tapang at malasakit para sa Diyos, sa bayan, at para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino," she said.
"Ako si Sara Duterte—tatakbo bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas," she concluded.
Duterte's announcement comes amid three impeachment complaints filed against her by various groups this February. She's accused of misusing public funds, amassing unusual wealth, and threatening to kill Marcos, the First Lady, and the House Speaker.
The once-solid UniTeam alliance between Duterte and Marcos first had weak spots when Marcos appointed Duterte as the Education secretary instead of giving her the National Defense post.
The row continued to manifest as former House Speaker Martin Romualdez spearheaded efforts to strip the VP office and DepEd of its confidential funds. The House of Representatives, mostly made up of Marcos supporters, also pushed to suspend the pro-Duterte network SMNI after a host accused Marcos' cousin of spending P1.8 billion on 2023 travels.
The rift in the UniTeam alliance worsened in January 2024 during a prayer rally against charter change in Davao City, where incumbent Davao City mayor Baste and their father, former president Rodrigo, called for Marcos' resignation, claiming he is lazy, lacks compassion, and is a drug addict. The two families have since exchanged tirades.
