Duterte eyes Senate or VP run if Sara impeached

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte might make a political comeback should his daughter, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, be impeached over the controversial P125-million confidential fund that she reportedly spent in just 11 days.

“You know what, if you do that, I shall be returning to politics, I will be forced, either I run for senator or vice president even if I am old already,” the former president said in Filipino during his Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa TV program aired over SMNI News Channel on Monday night.

“I do not lose anything. I am retired. If that (impeachment) happens and I am still alive and do not have dementia yet, I will run,” he added.

The former president also said that he will stay retired from politics if Sara becomes president. “It’s OK if Inday becomes president,” Duterte said.

The former president also said there really are certain people who want to oust his daughter Sara from the second highest position in the land.

There have been reports of efforts in the Lower House to file impeachment charges against the Vice President although almost all groups, including House Speaker Martin Romualdez, denied the rumors.

“She is my daughter. I have to defend her,” said Duterte, who earlier vowed not to return to politics despite having been egged by allies to once again go into politics after he stepped down as president on June 30, 2022.

The former president likewise stressed that the controversial intelligence fund did not come from Congress but came from the Office of the President and was downloaded to Sara’s office.

“You cannot go into a guessing game to just go into impeachment. For what? Intelligence fund? It was given to you. Why would you give it to me if I can’t spend it?” the former president added.

President Marcos himself earlier said the Vice President continues to enjoy his full support amid impeachment calls against her, emphasizing that she does not deserve to be ousted from office.

Meanwhile, the Duterte family will support the former president should he push through with plans to run for office in 2028, his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte said.

The younger Duterte made the remark after her father threatened individuals supposedly behind the impeachment plot against her.

In response, the Vice President said the Duterte family would support their father, just like how he supported them in their political endeavors.

“Whatever (former) President Duterte decides, he has his family’s full support, the younger Duterte said.

‘Communists’

Despite being sued for grave threats, Duterte on Monday again labeled ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro a “communist member.”

“I am branding you as a communist member. Let’s not kid each other. The Philippines knows, the military knows, the police knows,” Duterte said in the same program.

“Why should I not tag you? The NPA (New People’s Army) is our enemy,” Duterte said. — Diana Lhyd Suelto, Neil Jayson Servallos