Vice President Sara Duterte stirred buzz during a campaign rally for Manila mayoral bet Isko Moreno on Thursday, poking fun at Senator Imee Marcos and dropping a veiled hint about a possible run for the presidency.
In a light-hearted moment on stage, Duterte joked about Marcos’ last name. “Magpalit ka na po ng apelyido mo. Ay, Romualdez pala yung middle name mo,” she quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd.
She also playfully questioned the senator’s loyalty to their current tandem, saying, “Sure ka ba diyan?”
The remarks come amid long-standing tension between Duterte and the Marcos camp, especially after their political fallout in 2024. Imee Marcos previously broke away from her brother President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s senatorial slate, deepening speculations of a rift.
Duterte also took the moment to suggest a shift in her political direction. “Tanggalin ko lang po yung seal ng aking opisina. Palitan natin ng seal ng Office of the President,” she said, implying a possible presidential bid.
The Vice President and President Marcos Jr. ran under a joint UniTeam coalition in 2022, but their alliance fractured two years later, leading to a very public political split.
