Sara seriously considering 2028 run for presidency

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte is “seriously considering” running for president in 2028, saying she could not take sitting down the “continued backsliding” of the country.

“We are seriously considering,” Duterte told overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Tokyo during a meet-and-greet event as part of her “private” trip to Japan over the weekend.

“What’s happening to the country now can no longer continue. We see the country continuously backsliding. I really believe our country can be great,” she said when asked about her plans for 2028.

The Vice President’s statement was a change of tune from her previous remarks when asked about her political plans.

During her last public engagement last year, she reiterated that she would decide in 2026 whether she would run for the presidency in 2028.

While she was already considering throwing her hat into the 2028 presidential race, Duterte acknowledged how tough government reforms could be.

“It is difficult to make our countrymen understand how difficult the things we have to do are because we really have to stand firm, especially with government policies that need fixing,” she said.

“But I believe that if the people are united, that we know where we are going, our people can do it,” she added.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) said Duterte went to Japan over the weekend on a “private trip,” during which she also paid a visit to various OFW groups.

While the OVP did not say when she returned, it said that she has been back in Manila.

Sara thanks INC

Meanwhile, Duterte yesterday thanked the members of the Iglesia ni Cristo for the church’s rally for peace, intended to drum up support for President Marcos’ call last year not to proceed with the impeachment of his former runningmate.

In a statement, Duterte, who had just returned to Manila from her private weekend trip to Japan, said the rally was a “powerful” demonstration of unity and faith among Filipinos.

“I sincerely send my greetings to everyone who participated in today’s massive peace rally. This is a powerful display of unity and faith and whose only desire is peace toward the development of our country,” she added.

Duterte expressed her gratitude to the INC for its “continued efforts to bring understanding and unity to our countrymen.”

The INC held rallies in various parts of the country, with activities concentrated in the cities of Manila and Pasay, where classes and work were suspended.

Members of the 110-year-old church called on lawmakers to not proceed with Duterte’s impeachment, echoing Marcos’ rejection of calls to impeach the Vice President.

“In the midst of rising commodity prices, poverty and other problems, a peaceful and united Philippines will never be shaken, and will rise again and again in the midst of the challenges of the times,” Duterte said.

Last year, various political, civic and religious groups filed three impeachment complaints against the Vice President before the House of Representatives over alleged violations of the 1987 Constitution, starting from when Duterte was Davao City mayor in 2007 up to the time she was elected Vice President in 2022 and concurrently served as secretary of the Department of Education.

The complainants primarily hinged their allegations on Duterte’s supposed misuse of her office’s confidential funds and the statements she made against Marcos and members of his family.

The House, whose members serve as prosecutors during impeachment proceedings, said it may take up the impeachment complaints filed against the Vice President, should there be no more fourth complaint to be filed at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.

While Duterte has conceded her chances before the House, where the number of her allies remains to be determined following her tumultuous year of locking horns with leaders of the chamber over her office’s budget proposal and spending issues, she expressed belief that she can present a strong case.

The Vice President’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, was made part of her team of litigators who would be handling her impeachment complaints and possible criminal charges over the Vice President’s press conference, where she talked about contracting a person to kill the President, First Lady Liza Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez if their alleged plot to kill her succeeds.

Dismay

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has expressed dismay over the President’s removal of the country’s former presidents from the National Security Council, as he emphasized that their “wealth of experience” could prove valuable in crafting the country’s national security policies.

“Maybe, they find it uncomfortable, you know, convening the National Security Council with the Vice President around, so they removed it. That is their discretion, it is not stated in our Constitution that the Vice President is really there, so they just don’t want to, they can do everything, the Chief Executive has the power to reorganize all the departments and offices under the executive branch,” Dela Rosa said.

“What a waste, I regret the experience – the wealth of experience of former presidents that could be converted into valuable inputs in crafting defense policies of the sitting president,” he added after he was asked in a recent interview about his reaction to the NSC’s reorganization.

Marcos recently issued Executive Order 81, which reorganized the NSC and removed the Vice President and past presidents of the country from the advisory body for plans and policies related to national security.

Aside from the Vice President, EO 81 has also omitted former presidents Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Rodrigo Duterte.

Dela Rosa noted that it is Marcos’ prerogative to reorganize all departments and offices under the executive branch and that the Vice President’s removal from the council was “nothing new,” considering that former vice president Leni Robredo was also effectively excluded from the NSC. — Cecille Suerte Felipe