Vice President Sara Duterte has accused President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration of targeting her and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to derail her potential bid in the 2028 presidential elections.
In an interview with Russian media outlet RT, Duterte claimed that her impeachment case and her father’s arrest were part of a broader political agenda to prevent her rise. “It is clear from the moves of his administration against political opponents,” she said. Without naming names, she alleged that a relative of Marcos has expressed plans to run for president.
Duterte linked the impeachment efforts against her to the failed People’s Initiative that sought to change the Philippines’ form of government. She said the campaign to remove her intensified only after the charter change attempt failed.
Speaking at a press conference in Pampanga, Duterte expressed fears for her safety. “If I announce that I am running for president in 2028, maybe tomorrow I will be dead,” she warned. “They want to kill that woman so that the problems of the administration will be gone—not of the country, but of the administration.”
Despite these threats, Duterte said she has not made any concrete decisions about 2028 and plans to decide by late 2026.
She also addressed the detention of her father, currently held in The Hague and awaiting trial before the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity tied to his war on drugs. She reiterated that the arrest was politically motivated, pointing to the elder Duterte’s sharp criticisms of Marcos and his preparations for a senatorial campaign under PDP.
“He has no appetite… the food is not like traditional Filipino dishes,” she said, adding that her father misses his family and friends, leading to emotional highs and lows. She dismissed claims that her father is a flight risk or could influence witnesses, citing his age and health.
On foreign policy, the vice president again pushed for separate and balanced relations with the US and China, arguing that the Philippines should not rely solely on the United States in dealing with issues like the West Philippine Sea.
Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero clarified that a simple majority of 13 senators can vote to dismiss the impeachment case. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano echoed this, though he stressed the importance of verifying the Senate’s jurisdiction before any move, especially as the proceedings may carry over to the 20th Congress.
