Salceda finds Sara Duterte’s move ‘a misguided gamble’
Vice President Sara Duterte's early announcement of her 2028 presidential bid has drawn criticism from political observer and former colleague, Salceda, who described it as a "misguided gamble" that 'leaves a bad taste in the mouth.'
Former Albay Representative Joey Salceda publicly criticized Vice President Sara Duterte's early announcement of her 2028 presidential bid as a 'misguided gamble' during a media forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City on February 21, 2026. Salceda, who had previously supported Duterte's 2022 vice presidential campaign and even promoted her for president that year, described the move as 'ill-advised' and driven by poor political timing and instincts. He emphasized that strong presidential bids should emerge from public clamor rather than premature declarations, stating 'I think I would have wanted that there should be a clamor for her. Let the people proclaim you.' Salceda noted that the announcement 'leaves a bad taste in the mouth' despite his past collaboration with Duterte.
Vice President Sara Duterte had officially declared her 2028 presidential candidacy on February 18, 2026, marking a dramatic break from President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and the collapsed UniTeam alliance. In her announcement, Duterte criticized Marcos for corruption, inflation, healthcare failures, and insincerity, while apologizing for supporting his 2022 win. She framed her candidacy as a call to restore care for God, nation, and families, offering her 'life, strength, and future' to the nation.
The timing of Duterte's announcement coincided with significant political pressures, including four impeachment complaints filed against her in the House of Representatives. These complaints allege grave misconduct, including misuse of over ₱612.5 million in confidential funds from her roles as Vice President and Education Secretary, graft, corruption, threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, plus links to extrajudicial killings. The House had approved one complaint on February 5, 2025, though the Senate remanded it back to the House on June 10, 2025.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. responded neutrally to Duterte's announcement, stating 'That's her choice' and wishing her 'good luck' during a project inspection in Naga City with former Vice President Leni Robredo. Malacañang Palace dismissed the announcement as 'irrelevant,' urging officials to focus on national issues like the economy and flooding rather than political polarization. Other lawmakers, including Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr., a sponsor of one impeachment complaint, suggested the early bid could advantage Duterte's rivals by inviting scrutiny during ongoing investigations, with the 2028 elections still over two years away.
The political context includes the escalating Marcos-Duterte family feud, with Duterte having exited Marcos's Cabinet in June 2024 over budget corruption concerns. Analysts view the early announcement as strategic to rally Duterte's Mindanao base, shift narratives around impeachment as political attacks, and counter challenges like her father Rodrigo Duterte's International Criminal Court issues related to his drug war. The announcement also has foreign policy implications, as a Duterte presidency could potentially pivot the Philippines toward Beijing rather than maintaining current U.S. alliances.
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