Marcos' governance won't be affected by Sara Duterte's 2028 presidential bid

The work and governance of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will not be affected by the pronouncement of Vice President Sara Duterte that she will run for president in the national elections in 2028.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said this in a briefing on Thursday.

''Wala, hindi maaapektuhan... (It won't be affected),'' she said. 

''Maaapektuhan ba ng isang Bise Presidente na nag-announce lamang siya na siya ay tatakbo ang pagtatrabaho ng Pangulo? Kung ang iisipin lamang ng Pangulo natin ay ang mga sinasabi ng Bise Presidente, hindi na tatakbo ang gobyernong ito,'' she said.

(Will the announcement of the Vice President affect the work of the President? If he would only think about that, our government would not run.) 

''So, hindi po maaapektuhan ang focus ng Pangulo para maiangat ang ekonomiya ng bansa, maiangat ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino, at masolusyunan ang isyu sa baha na hindi nasolusyunan noon pa,'' she added.

(His focus of improving the country's economy, the welfare of Filipinos, and addressing the flood issues which were not solved before, won't be affected.) 

Castro also said it is not surprising that Duterte will run for president in the upcoming presidential polls. She added that Duterte seemed to be campaigning even before her announcement. 

''Ang Pangulo masisindak? Hindi naman po kasindak-sindak iyong pag-a-announce na siya ay tatakbo sa pagkapangulo dahil ramdam na ramdam na po, even before, ang kaniyang pangangampaniya sa labas. 

(Will the President be threatened? There is nothing threatening about her announcement since we can feel that she's already campaigning even before.)

''So, hindi po nakakagulat kung siya ay nag-announce na siya ay tatakbo bilang pangulo,'' she said.

(So it's not surprising if she announced that she will run for president.) 

On Wednesday, Duterte announced her bid for the 2028 presidential elections. 

Some lawmakers criticized Duterte's announcement, calling it a "distraction" and a "calculated" move ahead of the looming impeachment proceedings against her.

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. simply wished his former running mate good luck, Castro said. 

For Senator Imee Marcos, the Vice President has the "solution" for the problems that the country currently faces.

Senator Robin Padilla, meanwhile, floated the possibility of a "girl power" tandem in the 2028 national elections, teasing Senator Marcos as a potential running mate of Duterte. 

Castro said the President does not have any reaction as regards this possible tandem between Duterte and his sister.

''So, ngayon po, wala pong maaaring tugon at hindi pa po tumutugon o nagri-react ang Pangulo patungkol po diyan,'' Castro said.

(At present, the President has no reaction regarding the possible tandem.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News