VICE President Sara Duterte remains tight-lipped about her candidacy plans in 2028, despite topping a recent presidential preference survey.
Speaking to reporters during the inauguration of newly elected officials at the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) on June 27, 2025, Duterte downplayed talks of her candidacy, saying it is too early to make any commitments.
“The 2028 elections are still far off and there will be many more surveys before then,” Duterte said. She added that her focus remains on her current duties as vice president and expressed gratitude for the public’s continued support and trust in her and the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Duterte’s cautious stance comes amid ongoing political turmoil surrounding her office. Earlier this year, she announced that she was seriously considering running for a national position in 2028, even while facing two pending impeachment complaints in the House of Representatives. Both complaints are anchored on allegations of abuse of power, questionable spending, and supposed violations of the Constitution.
During a press conference on February 7, Duterte admitted she was weighing her options for 2028, including the presidency. At the time, she expressed frustration over the direction of the Marcos administration, suggesting that dissatisfaction with current national leadership was influencing her considerations.
Her political troubles further deepened following the controversial arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, earlier this year. The vice president has since alleged that both her father's arrest and her impeachment cases are part of a larger scheme to derail her political future and eliminate her as a contender in 2028.
In a recent interview with Russian state-owned media outlet RT, Duterte directly accused the Marcos administration of attempting to consolidate and perpetuate power. Without naming names, she said that a close relative of President Marcos has expressed interest in running for the presidency, fueling speculation of brewing political rivalries within the country’s top leadership circles.
Meanwhile, opposition figures like Senator Risa Hontiveros have also hinted at their possible plans for 2028. Hontiveros, a key figure from the liberal-progressive bloc, recently said she remains open to a presidential run but emphasized that her current priority is to unite the opposition and prepare for a viable challenge in the next elections. DEF