VP Sara Duterte still undecided on 2028 political plans

Vice President Sara Duterte said Friday she has not decided yet whether she will run for president in 2028, adding she expects to announce her plans in the “last quarter of 2026.”

Duterte was asked about former president now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s comment that past vice presidents either succeeded their predecessors or returned to power through elections.

Duterte replied that it is too early to talk about her own decision.

“Hindi ko alam [ano] mangyayari bukas, pero kung may bansa pa tayong matatawag sa 2028 ay merong elections sa 2028 para sa bagong VP,” she said during an ambush interview in Makati Shangri-La for the 90th Anniversary Celebration of the Office of the Vice President. 

(I don’t know what will happen tomorrow ... but if we still have county by 2028, then there will be elections for a new VP.)

Pressed further, she clarified that no final decision has been made on a 2028 presidential run.

“Ay hindi pa ko nakakapagdesisyon kung tatakbo ako sa 2028 so hindi pa ako umabot sa punto na nag-isip kung sino ang VP,” Duterte said.

(I haven’t decided yet if I will run in 2028 so I have not gone to the point to think who will be the VP.)

When asked about timelines circulating among her supporters, Duterte gave a specific period for when she intends to make her decision official.

“Last quarter of 2026,” she said.

Survey dips won’t shape decision

Duterte also dismissed suggestions that lower approval ratings should influence her 2028 plans. OCTA Research earlier reported a decline in her ratings.

“Assuming na ’yung paggagawa ng research nila ay tama, ’yung OVP ay hindi naman nagtatrabaho para sa trust or approval ratings,” she said.

(Assuming that the method in making their surveys us right, the OVP is not working for trust or approval ratings.)

She stressed that the Office of the Vice President will continue its projects regardless of survey trends, noting budget constraints.

“Kung ano ’yung commitment namin sa mga kababayan natin na mga projects ay itutuloy pa rin namin ’yon… kaya lalo naming doblehin namin ang effort namin para mas maraming kababayan ang makabenepisyo sa serbisyo ng OVP,” she said.

(The projects that we have committed to the public will be pursued. We will double our efforts so that more will benefit from our service.)

In the same interview, she also criticized what she described as “paranoia” inside government, defended the right to dissent, and confirmed she is facing an open sedition investigation. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News