Vice President Sara Duterte expressed gratitude to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong on Sunday for standing by her and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) despite the challenges brought by her impeachment by the House of Representatives.
Speaking at a thanksgiving event in Wan Chai, Duterte acknowledged the unwavering support of OFWs worldwide, saying it was one of the reasons she remains in her position.
“Salamat sa suporta ninyo sa akin, sa aking mga kasamahan, sa aming trabaho, sa programa at proyekto ng Office of the Vice President. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat…dahil kayo lang sumusuporta sa OVP, ang buong gobyerno ay iniwanan na po ang OVP,” she said.
Her remarks come after the OVP’s budget for 2025 was significantly reduced to P733.1 million from the initially proposed P2 billion, forcing the office to halt medical and burial assistance programs due to lack of funding.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers supporting the complaint. Her impeachment trial in the Senate is tentatively set for July 30, 2025. In response, she has petitioned the Supreme Court to question the legality of the impeachment process against her.
During her speech, Duterte also thanked OFWs for their support during the 2022 elections and playfully hinted at her political future.
“Personal ang pagpapasalamat ko sa inyong lahat sa tulong ninyo, sa kampanya ninyo, sa suporta ninyo para sa akin at sa boto ninyo noong nakaraang halalan nung 2022…At sa susunod na halalan sa 2028. Joke lang, joke,” she said, drawing cheers from the audience.
Last January, Duterte revealed she was “seriously considering” running for president in 2028.
