VP Sara Duterte: I’m single and ready to mingle in politics

Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday said she has yet to decide if she will join PDP Laban, the political party led by his father and younger brother. 

The Vice President made the remark after Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte was named PDP Laban’s acting president amid Senator Robin Padilla’s leave to focus on his duties as senator in the 20th Congress. 

Sara Duterte said that her father, Rodrigo, had already invited her to join the party when she resigned as secretary of the Department of Education in June 2024 and officially left Marcos’ Cabinet. But until now, she hasn’t decided on the matter. 

“Mainly because nakita niyo naman ‘yung nangyari sa akin di ba, parang ayaw ko nang kausap ‘yung mga politiko. Lalong-lalo na kapag magkakasama kami sa isang grupo. So wala naman, I have nothing against everyone. In general lang, sa akin, mas gusto ko yung ganito ako,” she said in a press conference in Davao City. 

(That’s mainly because I don't want to engage with politicians anymore, especially when we are together in a group. I have nothing against anyone. In general, I prefer where I stand now.) 

“I’m single and ready to mingle in terms of politics, kaysa ‘yung nakatali ka sa loob ng isang grupo. So hanggang ngayon, wala pa akong decision kung papasok ako ng PDP,” she added.

(I’m single and ready to mingle in terms of politics, rather than being tied to a group. So until now, I have not decided whether I will join the PDP.)

Impeachment 

At the same press conference, Duterte also alleged that there are members of the House of Representatives who received money for signing the impeachment complaint and voting to remove her from office. 

“Marami sa kanila ang tumanggap ng budget o pera kapalit ng kanilang signatures. In fact, madami sa kanila ang umamin na na may kapalit ‘yung kanilang pagpirma doon sa articles of impeachment,” she said. 

(Many of them received money in exchange for their signatures. In fact, many of them have admitted that they got something in return for signing the articles of impeachment.) 

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The articles of impeachment were transmitted to the Senate the same day, but the upper chamber adjourned without tackling the impeachment case.

Duterte was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, last Tuesday voted 18-5 to bring Duterte’s case back to the lower chamber without dismissing or terminating it.—LDF, GMA Integrated News