Sara Duterte Sets Sights on 2028 Presidency Amid Controversies

Sara Duterte, who has been the Vice President of the Philippines since 2022 and is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has declared her intention to run in the 2028 presidential elections. The Philippine Constitution limits a president to a single six-year term, which prevents the current president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., from seeking reelection. At 47 years old, Duterte has notable political experience, having served as the mayor of Davao City, the southern region's most significant urban center, from 2016 to 2022 during her father's presidency. Rodrigo Duterte, her father, is currently imprisoned in The Hague, Netherlands, due to charges related to his administration's harsh anti-drug policies, which have been condemned internationally as crimes against humanity. In the 2022 elections, Sara Duterte successfully ran for the vice-presidency alongside Marcos Jr., the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the Philippines autocratically from 1965 to 1986. Interestingly, though president and vice president are elected independently, their political alliance has faced substantial strain since they took office. Reports indicate that relations between Duterte and Marcos Jr. have soured dramatically, culminating in a shocking statement from Sara Duterte, who claimed to have hired a hitman to kill Marcos Jr., his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez—who is also a cousin of the president—if she were to be assassinated herself. The political landscape took another twist in February 2025 when the House of Representatives approved an impeachment motion against Duterte. She faced accusations of misappropriating over 612 million pesos (approximately 10 million euros) from funds meant for confidential purposes within the Vice President's office during 2022 to 2023. Although this motion required Senate approval to move forward, it was ultimately annulled by the Supreme Court in July 2025, citing its unconstitutionality. As Sara Duterte embarks on her campaign for the presidency, the political environment remains highly charged. Despite the controversies and legal challenges she has faced, it remains to be seen how her aspirations will unfold in the coming years as she navigates a complex political landscape filled with longstanding rivalries and shifting alliances. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2