MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has officially declared her intention to run for President in the 2028 national elections, a defiant move that comes as she faces a fresh wave of impeachment complaints in the House of Representatives.
The Vice President made the announcement during a public event on February 18, 2026, ending months of speculation regarding her political future. Her declaration marks a significant escalation in the ongoing friction between the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the leadership of the House of Representatives.
“I am announcing today that I will run for President in the 2028 elections,” Duterte told a crowd of supporters. “They can continue with their impeachment cases and their political attacks, but they cannot stop my commitment to serve the Filipino people.”
Context of the Declaration:
- New Impeachment Raps: The declaration coincided with the filing of new impeachment charges in Congress, primarily centered on allegations regarding the use of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) in 2022 and 2023, as well as issues surrounding the DepEd budget during her tenure as Secretary.
- The “Looming” Impeach Vote: Political analysts suggest the declaration is a tactical move to consolidate her “Duterte Diehard Supporters” (DDS) and ally blocks as the House Committee on Justice begins deliberations on the sufficiency of the complaints.
- Political Alignment: The move further solidifies the fracture of the “UniTeam” alliance that won the 2022 elections, effectively setting the stage for a highly polarized 2028 campaign.
Supporters of the Vice President viewed the announcement as a show of strength against “political persecution,” while critics labeled it a “premature” and “desperate” attempt to divert public attention from the transparency issues raised in the impeachment raps.
As the Vice President prepares for her 2028 run, the immediate focus remains on the Batasang Pambansa, where the impeachment process will test the loyalty of various political parties and the current administration’s stance on the brewing leadership crisis.