VICE President Sara Duterte on Wednesday morning formally announced her intention to run for president in the 2028 national elections.
“Ako si Sara Duterte, tatakbo bilang pangulo ng Pilipinas,” Duterte said during a press conference she convened to declare her plan to seek the country’s highest office.
Prior to delivering her speech, she ordered the removal of the Office of the Vice President logo from the podium and declined to entertain questions from reporters after her announcement.
Duterte said she is taking full responsibility for her political decisions and acknowledged public frustration over the country’s persistent problems, particularly corruption.
“Mga kababayan, humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa inyong lahat. Patawad kung tinulungan kong mahalal si BBM bilang Pangulo ng ating bansa,” she said.
She further claimed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had failed to fulfill his campaign promises and sworn duties as head of state.
The Vice President also explained that she resigned from her Cabinet position after deciding she could no longer support the proposed 2025 national budget, which she described as “tadtad ng katiwalian.”
She said she had anticipated that her resignation would eventually result in impeachment complaints.
“Dahil hindi ko kinayang maging bahagi ng 2025 national budget na tadtad ng katiwalian, pinili kong umalis sa Gabinete,” Duterte said.
According to her, she began questioning what she described as a lack of integrity in governance as early as the first months of the current administration.
In her five-page speech, Duterte outlined what she called the administration’s failures, including persistent flooding, rising prices of basic goods, food shortages, a weak healthcare system, deteriorating infrastructure, and continuing problems related to crime, illegal drugs, and terrorism.
She also criticized what she described as the absence of a clear and independent foreign policy, warning that the Philippines risks being caught between competing global powers.
“Patuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin habang nananatiling kapos ang kita ng bawat pamilya,” she said.
Duterte further claimed she has been subjected to politically motivated investigations and repeated accusations, including what she described as “scripted” congressional hearings aimed at damaging her reputation.
“Matagal na akong inaatake gamit ang buong makinarya ng kapangyarihan,” she said.
While she said she was not afraid for herself, Duterte expressed concern for the country’s future, particularly for the youth and succeeding generations.
“May takot ako para sa ating mga anak. May takot ako para sa mga susunod na henerasyon,” she said.
She added that her presidential bid is an offer of service rather than a plea for sympathy.
“Hindi ako maaaring lumuhod sa bawat Pilipino upang humingi ng kapatawaran. Sa halip, iniaalay ko ang aking buhay, lakas, at kinabukasan sa paglilingkod sa ating bayan,” Duterte said.
On January 29, Duterte said the government should “move on” after the Supreme Court affirmed its earlier ruling declaring the articles of impeachment against her unconstitutional.
However, on February 2, two new impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte and were accepted by House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil.
On February 6, Garafil said the complaints were transmitted to the office of House Speaker Faustino Bojie Dy III after the completion of the receipt and verification process.
Meanwhile, on February 9, several groups, including religious organizations and lawyers, filed a third impeachment complaint against Duterte over alleged betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other accusations, including the supposed misuse of at least ₱612 million in confidential funds.
The complaint was transmitted to the Speaker’s office on February 10.
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