Vice President Sara Duterte announced on Wednesday, February 18, that she will run for the presidency in 2028, vowing to prioritize the interests and welfare of the Filipino people amid widespread corruption plaguing the country.
Duterte, who is facing impeachment cases over controversial funds she dismissed as politically motivated, said her decision to seek the highest office is “for God, for the country, and for every Filipino family.”
“Mga kababayan, ibalik natin ang tapang at malasakit,” she said in a brief media statement. “Ako si Sara Duterte, tatakbo bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas.”
Duterte, who wielded significant influence over Visayas and Mindanao in previous elections, also issued an apology to the Filipino people for helping elect President Marcos, whom she accused of betraying his duty early in his term.
She asked for forgiveness if many Filipinos “remain drowned in massive corruption and abused by institutions because of personal interests,” if families continue to suffer from rising prices and food insecurity, and if lives are lost due to the absence of an effective healthcare system.
The Vice President also apologized for the government-funded roads and highways that always get damaged; for crimes, illegal drugs, and terrorist activities “that gradually get near our doorsteps”; and for our “unclear foreign policy.”
“Matagal na akong inaatake gamit ang buong makinarya ng kapangyarihan,” Duterte claimed, citing what she called a “scripted investigation” into her offices, the “kidnapping” of her father, and other allegations.
“Marahil ay matagal na rin akong hinatulan sa mata ng iilan,” she said, adding that it’s the reason why she decided to announce her plans as early as now.
“Hindi ako kailanman natakot sa pagsira nila ng pangalan ko. Ngunit may takot ako para sa ating mga anak. May takot ako para sa mga susunod na henerasyon,” she added.
The Vice President said she “cannot kneel before each and every Filipino to beg for forgiveness.”
“Instead, I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation,” she added.
Duterte said it took her 47 years to understand that her life wasn’t really meant to be hers.
“Unlike others, I may not have been born just to chase happiness. For a long time, I questioned the weight of responsibility—to my family, to my country, to everyone who called on me,” she said.
“Today, I have peacefully accepted that my life is unlike any other,” she added. (Joseph Pedrajas)
