Palace: Sara free to seek presidency

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte is free to seek the presidency in 2028, Malacañang said yesterday, days after she announced she was “seriously considering” gunning for the highest electoral post supposedly to stop the continued “backsliding” of the country.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said it may be too early to talk about the 2028 polls but noted that it is within Duterte’s prerogative to run for president.

“I think it’s too premature, but it’s her privilege,” Bersamin told reporters on the sidelines of a governance forum in Manila.

Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte and the running mate of President Marcos in the 2022 election, revealed over the weekend that she is considering seeking the presidency in three years, citing the need to put an end to the supposed “backsliding” of the country and to fix government policies.

The Vice President is now facing three impeachment complaints over several issues, including her failure to properly account for her confidential funds as well as her alleged plan to kill the President.

Meanwhile, Malacañang has distanced itself from the removal of the chairman of the House appropriations committee, which came after controversies hounded the crafting of this year’s national budget.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co lost the leadership of the panel last Monday after House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, son of President Marcos, moved to declare the post of appropriations committee chairman vacant. No lawmaker opposed the motion.

In a chance interview, Bersamin said Malacañang had nothing to do with the change in leadership of the House appropriations committee.

Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo of Marikina City’s 2nd district has been named acting chairperson of the House appropriations committee.