VP Sara denies presidential bid linked to ongoing impeachment

Vice President Sara Duterte said the announcement of her presidential bid for the 2028 elections had nothing to do with the ongoing impeachment process at the House of Representatives.

"Hindi naman (Not really)," she said in an interview in Iligan City, stressing that the impeachment threat has been there "yesterday, tomorrow, today."

"Kahapon, bukas, ngayon, ang impeachment ay nandyan.  Ang pag-decision ko, hindi siya kasali, iyong factor ng impeachment (The impeachment threat has been there yesterday, tomorrow, today.  Impeachment was not a factor in my decision)," she added.

In a news conference on February 18, Duterte announced she will run for president in 2028.

"Ako si Sara Duterte tatakbo bilang pangulo ng Pilipinas  (I am Sara Duterte, I will run for president of the Philippines)," she said.

Duterte is facing four impeachment complaints before the House of Representatives. The complaints have been referred to the House committee on justice, marking the initiation of the complaint.

Duterte said her plans to seek the presidency has been relayed to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is in a detention facility at The Hague, The Netherlands, due to crimes against humanity he is facing before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Vice President said her father's lawyers told the former leader about Duterte's announcement during their visit ahead of the confirmation of charges hearing of the ICC.  

"Nagpadala siya ng maikling sulat doon sa abugado.  Hindi pa ako nakapagpaalam sa abogado ni PRRD kung pwede kong ibahagi sa inyo (He sent a letter through his lawyers.  I have yet to ask his lawyers if I can share the message with the public.

Duterte said she firmed up her plans about seeking the presidency in the fourth quarter of 2025.

"Doon ako nagsimula mag-ampo, mag-relfect, magdasal, magmuni-muni (That's when I started to reflect, pray and think)," she said

She said the attacks against her started in 2023, even before her announcement.

"Ang kaibahan naman sa akin ay 2023 pa lang, sinimulan na ina-assume ng lahat na
tatakbo ako ng Pangulo at sinimulan na nila ‘yung pagsira sa pangalan ko. So bakit ko pa ba ide-delay ‘yung pagsabi na tatakbo ako kung nakapag desisyon na," she said.

(The difference in my case is that as early as 2023, people started assuming that I would run, and they started the demolition job.  So, why delay the announcement about my running.)

Asked about the meeting of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his erstwhile rival for the presidency, incumbent Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, Duterte said, "good luck." —LDF, GMA Integrated News