PBBM, tikom sa pagtakbo ni VP Sara Duterte sa pagkapangulo sa 2028: 'That's her choice'
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has remained tight-lipped regarding Vice President Sara Duterte's declaration of her presidential candidacy for 2028, simply stating, "That’s her choice."
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (PBBM) responded to Vice President Sara Duterte's announcement of her 2028 presidential bid by stating, 'That's her choice,' during a press conference in Naga City on Saturday, February 21, 2026. He made this remark when asked for his thoughts, emphasizing that it was her personal decision and that he was not focused on politics during the visit, which aimed to address regional issues in Bicol rather than court candidates like Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo. Marcos stressed helping local governments based on need, not politics, drawing from his experience as a former mayor.
Vice President Sara Duterte had declared her presidential candidacy on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at the Office of the Vice President. In her announcement, she blamed President Marcos for various issues including corruption, inflation, crime, drugs, healthcare failures, and flooding. She apologized for helping him win in 2022 and had resigned from the Cabinet in June 2024 over budget concerns, anticipating impeachment. Duterte currently faces four impeachment complaints for alleged misuse of P612 million in confidential funds, bribery, and betrayal of public trust.
Additional reactions from Malacañang included the Palace calling Duterte's announcement 'irrelevant' on Friday, February 20, 2026, while prioritizing the administration's agenda. On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Palace spokesperson Claire Castro relayed Marcos's separate response as 'Good luck' to Duterte's presidential ambitions.
Public opinion trends show Duterte leading early 2028 presidential preferences at 33.3% according to WR Numero's 2025 survey. She also has stronger trust ratings (+32% net) than Marcos (-14% net) per Pulse Asia's December 2025 survey, especially among youth voters. The political landscape is shaping up for the 2028 elections with this early declaration creating significant political waves in Philippine politics.
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