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Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday formally declared that she will run for president in 2028, putting an end to years of speculation that intensified following her split from the Marcos administration.
“I am Sara Duterte. I will run for president of the Philippines,” she announced during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President headquarters in Mandaluyong City.
Reflecting on her decision, Duterte said: “It took me 47 years to understand that my life was never meant to be only mine. Unlike others, I may not have been born just to chase happiness.”
The vice president did not entertain follow-up questions after making the announcement.
Duterte has consistently ranked as a presidential frontrunner in recent surveys.
The political alliance between the Marcos and Duterte camps has deteriorated over the past two years. Tensions escalated after Duterte resigned as education secretary in June 2024, stepping down from the Cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
The rift deepened further when the Marcos administration allowed the International Criminal Court (ICC) to arrest former president Rodrigo Duterte, who faces crimes against humanity charges linked to his administration’s anti-drug campaign, which reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths based on official government data.
In her speech, Duterte also addressed her role in the 2022 elections.
“My fellow countrymen, I apologize,” she said. “I apologize if I helped elect BBM as president of our country.”
Malacañang responded briefly to the vice president’s declaration.
“Good luck.”
This, according to Palace press officer Claire Castro, was President Marcos’ reaction when informed of Duterte’s 2028 presidential bid. Castro said the president was “smiling” when he made the remark.
Asked whether Marcos was being sincere or sarcastic, Castro said: “Whenever the president says ‘good luck,’ he is usually smiling. So if this is sarcastic or not, I cannot say.”
