Marcos, tikom muna sa pagtakbo ni Sara Duterte sa pagkapangulo sa 2028: 'It"s her choice"
Umiwas magkomento si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa pahayag ni Bise Presidente Sara Duterte na tatakbo ito sa pagkapresidente sa 2028 elections, at sinabing "It's her choice."
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. responded to Vice President Sara Duterte's announcement of her 2028 presidential bid with the statement "Nothing really. It's that, that's her choice" during a visit to Naga City on February 21, 2026. This came after Duterte officially declared her candidacy on February 18, 2026, in a public address where she stated "I am Sara Duterte. I will run for president of the Philippines," positioning herself as continuing her father Rodrigo Duterte's legacy. The announcement marked the complete breakdown of the UniTeam alliance between Marcos and Duterte that won landslide victories in the 2022 elections.
Duterte's declaration included sharp criticism of President Marcos, accusing him of corruption, lack of sincerity, breaking their 2022 election alliance promises, and failing to address rising costs of goods and healthcare issues. She sought forgiveness from supporters for her previous support of Marcos and adopted an anti-establishment stance similar to her father's political approach. The timing of her announcement comes amid escalating political tensions between the two former allies that began intensifying in 2024.
The political context includes multiple impeachment complaints filed against Duterte, including allegations of misuse of confidential funds, with the most recent complaint filed in 2025 and sent to the Senate for trial. Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro has stated that Duterte's presidential bid will not hinder ongoing impeachment proceedings against her. Meanwhile, Senator Robin Padilla has expressed willingness to run as vice president in 2028 if former President Rodrigo Duterte requests it, and there has been speculation about Senator Imee Marcos (President Marcos's sister) potentially aligning with Duterte's camp.
Analysts view Duterte's early declaration as a strategic move to consolidate support, deter defections from her political camp, and harden political lines ahead of what is expected to be a prolonged and contentious election campaign. The announcement effectively sets the stage for a historic political showdown in the 2028 Philippine presidential election scheduled for May 8, 2028. President Marcos's brief response reflects the fractured relationship between the two leaders, with his press officer Claire Castro adding only "Good luck" to his statement, indicating the complete dissolution of their former political partnership.
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