MANILA, Philippines – Groups from various sectors condemned Vice President Sara Duterte’s decision to declare her presidential bid in the 2028 elections and questioned the true intentions behind the move.

Duterte announced her plans to seek the presidency in 2028 in a streamed speech on Wednesday, February 18. The announcement comes as the House of Representatives is expected to initiate fresh impeachment proceedings against her.

For Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Co, Duterte’s presidential bid is an attempt to evade accountability.

“Tumatakbo lang si Sara Duterte mula sa pananagutan, hindi para sa bayan. Gaya-gaya siya sa mga Marcos na nag-ambisyong bumalik sa Malacañang para linisin ang kanilang pangalan,” she said.

(Sara Duterte is only running from accountability, not for the country. She’s imitating the Marcoses who aspired to return to Malacañang to whitewash their name.)

Co also questioned whether the public should trust Duterte again after she admitted that she wants to run due to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s supposed failure to fulfill his campaign promises.

“How can we trust Sara Duterte in 2028 when she’s going on unlimited vacations for half of her term? The UniTeam’s legacy is centered around fraud and plunder. She also pushed Filipinos to drown in a flood of hardship,” Co said in Filipino.

While Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima said that it is Duterte’s right to announce her presidential bid early, she pointed out that it is also the Filipino people’s right to demand accountability.

“Mas magandang harapin at sagutin muna niya ang mga ito bago ang ambisyon na maging Pangulo ng Pilipinas (It would be better if she first faced the allegations before aspiring to be president of the Philippines),” she said.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros said that the opposition will continue discussions to identify their own standard bearer for the 2028 polls by year-end.

“Bago pa man itong recent important development, patuloy yung pag-level off namin, pagkakasundo kung ano yung aming requirements or ‘yun… qualifications na hahanapin sa aming hanay. Hindi po nagbabago ‘yun,” she said at a press conference.

(Even before this recent important development, we’ve continued leveling off, agreeing on the requirements or qualifications that we will seek. That will not change.)

Senator Imee Marcos, who has distanced herself from her brother and aligned more closely with Duterte, believes the vice president is following the wishes of her supporters and realizing the fears of her opponents.

“She represents the complete opposite of this administration, she will provide direction to this country. She has the strength and compassion of her father while bringing with her previous experience in helping those in need. She has a solution,” Marcos wrote in Filipino.

A distraction?

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Panay described Duterte’s presidential bid as a “calculated distraction” to hijack the national narrative surrounding the new impeachment proceedings against her.

“This is a desperate move to evade accountability for the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and for the blatant betrayal of public trust,” BAYAN wrote in a statement.

The National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP) also raised concerns over Duterte’s tenure as education secretary, which was plagued by issues such as the alleged misuse of confidential funds and alleged unexplained wealth.

“Rather than addressing the country’s crises, her political trajectory reflects a pattern familiar in political dynasties – consolidating power, evading accountability, and protecting personal interests. This is not sacrifice for the nation – it is preservation of privilege,” said NUSP national president Iya Trinidad.

Akbayan Youth national chairperson Khylla Meneses believes that Duterte is seeking the presidency to shield her family from accountability.

“Walang saysay ang pekeng paghingi ng tawad kung patungo ito sa kanyang pansariling interes at hindi ng mamamayan (A fake apology is pointless if it only serves one’s personal interest and not the people’s),” she said. – Rappler.com