VP Duterte on leaving politics: I need to answer to Filipinos first

Vice President Sara Duterte during her press conference at the Office of the Vice President, Robinsons Cybergate Plaza, Mandaluyong City, on October 17, 2024. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday said the time would come when she would leave politics, but she needed to address the needs of Filipinos first.

In a press conference, she was asked to comment on her father former President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for her to leave politics.

The Vice President laughed and then said in Filipino: “After he told me to keep running for public office, I ran for mayor, I ran for vice mayor, and then he told me to step away from politics.”

“But we will get there… The time will come when I won’t be involved in politics anymore. I also want that, but my concern is that I need to answer to the 32.2 million Filipinos who placed their trust and confidence in me to serve as the vice president for everyone, not just the 32.2 million,” she added. “The time will come when I will no longer participate in politics, but in life, we never know what will happen tomorrow. You can only plan, but it’s always God’s purpose that shall prevail.”

Former President Duterte made the call during a press conference in Davao City on November 8.

“Inday, just be thankful to God that your father became president and you became vice president. That’s very rare for one family. Not all families in the Philippines experience that… let’s just be grateful. Now, as fast as you can, get out of politics,” he said in Filipino.

READ: Sara Duterte’s chief of staff given last chance to skip House probe

Vice President Duterte is facing allegations of misusing the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.

Last September, the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged P164 million of the P375-million confidential fund spent by the OVP last year.

COA also issued a notice of disallowance on P73.2 million of the OVP’s P125-million confidential funds for 2022, prompting the House committee on good government and public accountability to probe the OVP’s budget utilization.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said Vice President Duterte may be held liable for graft if she cannot explain how the OVP funds were spent.

READ: OVP execs who skipped House probe cited for contempt, ordered arrested