Bongbong Marcos to Sara Duterte's 2028 presidential bid: 'Good luck'
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. had only two words for Vice President Sara Duterte after she announced her intention to run for president in 2028: "Good luck."
His response was relayed by Palace press officer Usec. Claire Castro during a briefing when asked by the media if the chief executive had heard of Duterte's plans.
"Nadinig niya po, at ang sabi niya po ay, 'Good luck.' At nadinig niya po ang mga sinabi na pinagsisisihan at humihingi ng kapatawaran itong si vice president," she said.
In her speech, Duterte also took a swipe at her 2022 elections "UniTeam" running-mate for breaking the promises he made during the campaign period. She also apologized for helping Marcos with his presidential bid.
Addressing these statements, Castro said, "Tandaan po natin, ang taong bayan ang naghalal kay Pangulo Marcos Jr. Kung ano man po ang natulong niya, pareho naman po silang nagtulungan dahil ito ay UniTeam. Kaya huwag niya pong solohin ang credit kung nanalo man ang Pangulo."
"At nakikita ngayon ng mga kababayan natin kung sino ba ang nagtatrabaho. Isang working president compared sa vice presidente," she added.
Duterte also claimed that the 2025 national budget was full of corruption, which is what led her to leave as a cabinet member.
"Siguro po dapat mauna muna na ihingi niya ng tawad kung ano man ang mga issue ng korupsyon at katiwalian at 'di umanong paglulustay ng confidential funds ng kanyang dalawang opisina at the time, OVP at ng DepEd," Castro argued.
"Kung meron pang napipintong impeachment, ito po ay dahil sa kanyang kagagawan mismo. Kung wala naman siyang ginawa na mga maanumalya at labag sa konstitusyon, hindi naman po siguro siya masasampahan ng mga impeachment complaints," she continued.
Other politicians react
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros also gave her reaction to Duterte's intention to run for president two years from now.
"Sabi ng mga paborito nating mga philosophers, tayo po ay may free will. So, gamitin po natin," she said.
Kabataan Partylist Rep. Renee Co, meanwhile, stressed that there are still more important matters that Duterte must address aside from her presidency.
"At this point in time, hindi dapat ito ang tanong na sinasagot ni VP Sara Duterte. Ang tanong ay nasaan ang kinurakot na pera ng taumbayan, paano ito ibabalik, at paano po kayo mananagot? 'Yun po dapat ang naisagot ni VP Sara Duterte," she said.
Among Duterte's supporters were Marcos's sister, Sen. Imee Marcos.
"Itinaga lamang niya sa bato ang hiling at panawagan ng kanyang mga tagasuporta, kinumpirma rin niya ang takot ng kanyang mga kalaban. Siya ang katauhan ng kabaligtaran ng administrasyong ito, siya ang magbibigay ng direksyon sa kawalang patutunguhan ng bansa," Imee wrote in a statement, adding that Duterte has the "solution."
The One Bangsamoro Movement also stood behind the VP, crediting Duterte's father, the detained Rodrigo Duterte, for enacting the Bangsamoro Organic Law during his administration.
"We believe a Duterte once again can help mend the country's fractured political fabric and renew public trust in institutions," the coalition's national president, Alan Balangi, said.
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 showed chinks in its armor 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 tension reached a boiling point when her when Duterte's chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, was detained due to being cited in contempt by the House of Representatives amid the probe on her office. This led to her assassination remark against Marcos in 2024.
