Sara Duterte notice of 2028 presidential bid a 'calculated' move, solons say

Members of the Makabayan bloc on Wednesday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte's announcement that she intends to run for president in 2028, calling it a "distraction" and a "calculated" move ahead of the looming impeachment proceedings against her.

Duterte's declaration comes as three impeachment complaints endorsed by opposition lawmakers, including one from the Makabayan bloc, awaits referral in the House of Representatives.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio said the timing of the announcement was deliberate.

"Malinaw na kalkulado ang timing ng announcement bago isalang at lumarga 'yung impeachment complaint sa kanya sa Kongreso. Siguro, tingin niya, matatakot niya o masisindak niya ang mga kongresista dahil tatakbo siyang presidente. Pero makikita natin na dahil napakatibay ng batayan sa kaniyang impeachment, di uubra 'yung ganyang mag-gimmick at malalantad muli ang kabulukan sa ginawa niya sa official funds," Tinio said.

(The timing of her announcement is clearly a calculated move before the impeachment complaint against her is tackled and moves forward in Congress. Perhaps she thinks that she can strike fear upon congressmen because she will run for president. But we will see that the basis of the impeachment complaint against her is very strong. Her gimmicks will not work and her misdeeds with official funds will be revealed.)

Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Co echoed the sentiment, describing the 2028 presidential bid as a diversion from the issue of accountability.

"Well, in my head, this is a distraction. Supposedly, ang taong bayan, ang mga kongresista, ang mga ahensya ay naka-gear na i-pursue ang pananagutan hanggang sa dulo nito. Pero meron ngayong nilabas na announcement that is premature and… providing intention na may higher ambitions si VP Sara Duterte. At this point in time, hindi ito ang tanong na dapat sinasagot ni VP Sara Duterte," Co said.

(Well, in my head, this is a distraction. Supposedly, the people, congressmen, agencies are all gearing up to pursue her accountability until the very end. But here comes the announcement that is premature and... providing intention that VP Sara Duterte has higher ambitions. At this point in time, this is not the question that VP Sara Duterte should be answering.)

Co said the focus should remain on addressing allegations tied to the Vice President's use of confidential and intelligence funds, which form part of the grounds cited in the impeachment complaint.

For her part, Gabriela party-list Representative Sarah Elago challenged fellow lawmakers to stand by their constitutional duty amid the political developments.

"It may also be a desperate attempt to divert attention away from the real issue that is the questionable use of the confidential intelligence funds of the OVP (Office of the Vice President) and the DepEd (Department of Education) Budget, the use of fake names, as well as the disregard for the process of checks and balances and accountability, as well as the explanation of how public funds were spent," Elago said in a mix of English and Filipino. 

"'Yan po 'yung mga batayan ng impeachment complaint na aming naendorso. Kaya hamon din 'yan talaga dito sa mga member ng Kongreso na ipakita nila 'yung kanilang pagiging tapat du'n sa sinumpaang tungkulin na magsilbi sa interes ng taong bayan at hindi 'yung mga pansariling interes," Elago said.

(That is the basis of the impeachment complaint which we endorsed. So that is a challenge for each member of Congress—to show their sincerity to comply with the sworn oath of serving the interest of the Filipino interest, and not their own.)

The Makabayan bloc is among the endorsers of the impeachment complaint against Duterte, which cites alleged betrayal of public trust and misuse of confidential funds at the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during her tenure as secretary.

Despite Duterte's continued public support and her early declaration for the 2028 presidential race, the bloc maintained that the impeachment process must proceed in accordance with the Constitution and House rules, insisting that political ambitions should not derail accountability proceedings. — VDV, GMA Integrated News