Vice President Sara Duterte Formally Announces 2028 Presidential Bid
Vice President Sara Duterte made a significant political announcement on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, formally declaring her candidacy for the 2028 presidential elections. During a press conference, Duterte presented herself as ready to serve at the highest level, offering a vision of renewed national direction amid what she described as critical challenges facing the Philippines.
A Vision of Courage and Compassion
"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," Duterte stated emphatically. She continued with a powerful declaration: "Mga kababayan, ibalik natin ang tapang at malasakit — para sa Diyos. Para sa bayan. At para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Ako si Sara Duterte, tatakbo bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas."
This translates to: "My fellow Filipinos, let us bring back courage and compassion — for God. For the country. And for every Filipino family. I am Sara Duterte, and I will run for President of the Philippines."
Criticism of the Marcos Administration
In a striking move, Duterte asked the Filipino people for forgiveness for helping President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. achieve office. She revealed: "Sa unang mga buwan pa lang ng aming 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."
This means: "In the very first months of our term, I already saw Bongbong Marcos Jr.'s lack of sincerity in the promises he made during the campaign, as well as in his sworn duty to the nation."
Departure from Cabinet and Political Fallout
Duterte explained her decision to leave the Cabinet, stating: "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."
This translates to: "Because I could not bear to be part of the 2025 national budget riddled with corruption, I chose to leave the Cabinet — even though I already knew, as early as 2023, that the consequence would be my impeachment."
Duterte acknowledged that her decision to run alongside Marcos in the 2022 elections contributed to the current situation, describing a government riddled with corruption, communities drowning in floodwaters, families suffering from hunger, and prices of necessities at an all-time high.
Political Tensions and Investigations
The political alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families began deteriorating in early 2024 when former President Rodrigo Duterte labeled his successor as "bangag" and a "drug addict" while criticizing the administration's push for charter change through a People's Initiative. Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte even called for Marcos' resignation.
In mid-2024, Duterte resigned as secretary of the Department of Education and vice chairperson of the anti-insurgency council. Since then, she has not attended any of Marcos' State of the Nation Addresses. Duterte has repeatedly criticized Marcos, stating they were not friends, that he does not know how to be President, and that at one point she wanted to tear off his head after realizing their relationship had become toxic.
Legal Challenges and Supreme Court Ruling
Toward the end of 2024, the House of Representatives Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability launched an investigation into alleged misuse of funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the DepEd under Duterte's watch. Duterte refused to attend the probe, with her staff being questioned instead.
Angered by the detention of her chief of staff, Duterte stated in a live interview that she had contracted an assassin to kill the President, his wife, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed. These events were followed by multiple impeachment complaints against Duterte.
The Supreme Court en banc recently upheld with finality its earlier ruling declaring the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional, providing a significant legal victory for the Vice President as she embarks on her presidential campaign.
