Veteran actress Claudine Barretto has been cast to portray Vice President Sara Duterte in an upcoming project directed by Darryl Yap. While full details about the production are still under wraps, Yap confirmed the casting via Facebook on April 22, stating, “Claudine Barretto as Inday Sara Duterte.”
Barretto later reposted the announcement with a grateful note to the controversial filmmaker, saying, “Thank you Direk.” In a subsequent exchange shared on social media, Yap asked the actress, “Clau! Ready ka bang maging si Inday Sara?” to which she emotionally replied, “Sara forever. Oh my gosh, I’m crying. Thank you direk.”
The two previously met in April 2024 to discuss a film under Viva Films. During the meeting, Senator Imee Marcos was also present, and Barretto shared that Viva executive Vic Del Rosario had already greenlit the project.
Yap, known for politically themed films such as Maid in Malacañang and Martyr or Murderer, had also planned to release The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma, which was postponed due to his ongoing legal battle with actor Vic Sotto, who filed multiple cyberlibel charges against him.
Barretto’s family is publicly known to have ties with former President Rodrigo Duterte, who notably attended the wake of her father in 2019—an event that drew public attention after a family altercation took place in front of him.