Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said on Wednesday that she will run for president in the 2028 election.
Duterte said she was offering her “life, strength and future” in the service of the nation. Independent opinion surveys rank her as a strong contender in the 2028 race.
Under the constitution, the president is limited to a single six‑year term, which means incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, a political rival, cannot seek reelection.
Duterte is the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained in The Hague on murder charges linked to his bloody war on drugs during his presidency.
Lack Of Sincerity
In fact, Sara’s announcement comes just days before her father begins a pre-trial hearing at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands over crimes against humanity allegedly committed as part of this drug crackdown.
“I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation,” the vice president said at a Wednesday press briefing where she assailed Marcos’ record, reported The Japan Times.
The report also mentioned that Duterte accused Marcos of corruption in her brief speech, saying he had failed to live up to his word during the short-lived alliance that saw them storm to a landslide victory in the 2022 presidential election.
“In the first few months of our terms, I already saw Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s lack of sincerity regarding the promises made during the campaign, as well as his sworn duty to the nation,” the vice president said, using Marcos’ nickname.
Sara Duterte’s Background
The BBC reported that Sara Duterte served as vice-mayor to her father when he led Davao City in the 2010s. She was thrust into the national spotlight when, in defence of shanty town dwellers, she punched a Davao sheriff in full view of TV news cameras.
She was Davao City mayor when her father was president from 2016 to 2022, and her alliance with Marcos in the 2022 elections was pivotal for both their election victories.
The vice-president, like her father, projects a tough image, reports the BBC. She rides large motorcycles and has given her children nicknames like Sharky, Stonefish and Stingray. She also shares matching tattoos with her two brothers.
(with inputs from Reuters)
