MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s decision to aim for the presidency 2028 national should not come as a surprise as this has been her trajectory all along, several lawmakers said.
In separate statements, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, and Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor said that Duterte’s move was not something that the public has not foreseen.
READ: Sara Duterte announces 2028 presidential bid
Duterte on Wednesday announced that she is running for president in 2028, ending speculations as to whether she will aim for the country’s highest elective posts.
De Lima said this is within Duterte’s rights — as it is the right of Filipinos to hold her accountable for alleged violations.
“We are not shocked to hear that. It is her right to declare her candidacy even if it’s too early. This is just like the right of the Filipino people to hold her accountable regarding serious allegations of corruption and violations of the Constitution — which has been our call since 2024,” de Lima said in Filipino on Wednesday.
“It may be better for her to face and answer these allegations first before aiming to be the country’s president,” she added.
Tinio said Duterte’s announcement of her 2028 presidential bid would not affect the upcoming impeachment proceedings against her.
Duterte is facing four impeachment complaints, all lodged before the Office of House of Representatives Speaker Faustino Dy III.
“Well, nothing changes, because we all know that it’s her plan. Were you shocked by the announcement that she will run for president? So we all know that, and despite this, Congress even in the past knows that’s the case, and the impeachment proceedings will continue because there’s sufficient basis,” Tino said in Filipino.
“The announcement to run for president cannot cover up calls for accountability that Vice President Sara Duterte should face,” he added.
When asked if Duterte’s announcement would be risky as it would expose her to possible criticisms two years before the 2028 elections, Defensor said in a separate interview that there’s nowhere else to go but to tell the people that she’s running for president — especially since it is what the Vice President wants.
“I don’t think it was risky for her, anyway, she’s already facing an impeachment complaint. There’s nowhere else to go except to tell everyone that you’re running kasi yun naman talaga ang gusto niya (because that’s what she really wants),” Defensor noted.
Pandora’s box
Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante on Thursday said that Duterte’s announcement might lead to the opening of a “Pandora’s box.”
“Napakaaga ng kanyang announcement (Her announcement is too early),” Abante, endorser of the fourth impeachment complaint filed on Wednesday, said in an online interview.
“Her announcement would open the Pandora’s box for everything. That will expose her publicly,” he said.
Duterte was already impeached by the House of the 19th Congress, after 215 House lawmakers filed and signed a fourth complaint against her last February 5, 2025.
The complaint was hinged on allegations of misuse of CF lodged in her offices, threats against ranking officials, and other possible violations of the 1987 Constitution.
The Articles of Impeachment were immediately transmitted to the Senate on the same day, as the 1987 Constitution states that a trial must begin forthwith if at least one-third of all House members endorse the complaint.
READ: House impeaches Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate
But last July 25, the Supreme Court (SC) announced that the Articles of Impeachment were deemed unconstitutional, for violating the 1987 Constitution’s one-year bar rule.
The House submitted a motion for reconsideration to appeal the case. SC then announced last January 29 that it had dismissed with finality the House’s motion for reconsideration.
A year after, the three groups that filed the first set of impeachment complaints against Duterte refiled their petitions, citing same grounds mentioned in the previous raps.
Under the SC decision, Dy has until March 2 to include the first two complaints within the Order of Business for plenary consideration, as both were filed on February 2 and should be transmitted within 10 session days. /gsg