Philippines VP Sara Duterte Announces 2028 Presidential Run

1 week ago 26

February 18, 2026 | 05:03 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said Wednesday she would seek the presidency in the 2028 elections, setting the stage for an early start to the race in the Southeast Asian nation of 116 million people.

"I am Sara Duterte. I will run for president of the Philippines," she said in a brief televised speech. "I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation," she added.

Duterte is the daughter of the former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity over a brutal antidrugs crackdown that left thousands of his citizens dead over the course of his presidency.

Sara Duterte's Bitter Feud with Current Leader Bongbong Marcos

Sara Duterte made the announcement that she was going to run for office in 2028 in a televised speech, where she also took aim at current leader Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for the country's problems, including corruption.

"In the first few months of our terms, I already saw Bongbong Marcos Jr.'s lack of sincerity regarding the promises made during the campaign, as well as his sworn duty to the nation," the vice president said, using Marcos's nickname.

Duterte apologized for helping Marcos win the 2022 election when she ran as the vice presidential running mate and helped him tap in her family's huge support base.

But their alliance has since descended into a bitter political rift, with both having mounted personal attacks on each other as they remain split on policy differences.

Marcos has boosted defense ties with his country's treaty ally, the US, while the vice president's father, Rodrigo Duterte, nurtured cozy relations with China and Russia during his stormy term that ended in 2022.

Duterte's Announcement Comes as She Faces Another Round of Impeachment Attempt

Political analysts said the timing of Sara Duterte's announcement appeared strategic, coming as she faces another round of impeachment complaints accusing her of betraying the public's trust, corruption and other crimes. She survived similar efforts last year.

Under the Philippine constitution, an impeachment triggers a senate trial. A guilty verdict in the trial would see a candidate banned from running for political office.

Meanwhile, just days ago, a pair of impeachment complaints against incumbent leader Marcos was thrown out by the House of Representatives justice committee.

The constitution also allows a president only one term of six years, which means Marcos cannot seek reelection.

Read: Philippines' Sara Duterte Receives Impeachment Summons

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