The dissolution of the political marriage that brought Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the presidency reached its logical, if precocious, conclusion on Wednesday, as Vice President Sara Duterte officially declared her candidacy for the 2028 presidential election. Speaking from the headquarters of the Office of the Vice President in Mandaluyong City, Ms. Duterte framed her early entry into the race as a matter of existential duty, signaling a definitive fracture in the 'UniTeam' alliance that had previously suggested a long-term consolidation of the nation’s two most powerful political dynasties. In a televised address that oscillated between personal reflection and sharp political rebuke, she asserted that her life was no longer her own to control, a rhetorical flourish that served to transform a partisan announcement into a mission of national salvation.
The timing of the declaration, three years ahead of the scheduled polls, is seen by observers of Philippine politics not as a sign of confidence, but as a strategic calculation amidst a rapidly deteriorating legal and political environment. Ms. Duterte currently faces an intensifying effort by the House of Representatives to remove her from office, a process that gained further momentum just hours after her announcement when a fourth formal impeachment complaint was filed by a private lawyer. This latest petition joins a growing pile of grievances submitted throughout February by an eclectic coalition of civil society groups, religious leaders, and political activists, all seeking to hold the Vice President accountable for a range of alleged improprieties.
In her remarks, Ms. Duterte did not shy away from direct confrontation with the administration she remains technically a part of. She accused President Marcos of systemic corruption and a failure to address the basic economic anxieties of the electorate, specifically citing the corrosive impact of inflation. Most strikingly, she expressed a public and profound regret for her role in the 2022 campaign, asking the public for forgiveness for her endorsement of Mr. Marcos. By framing the current administration’s tenure as one of 'misrule' and 'insincerity,' she has positioned herself as the primary antagonist to the status quo, effectively ending any pretense of executive unity.
The legal obstacles facing the Vice President are as diverse as they are consequential. Central to the impeachment proceedings are allegations concerning the use of millions of dollars in confidential and intelligence funds during her tenure as both Vice President and Secretary of Education. Furthermore, the complaints cite a series of incendiary remarks made by Ms. Duterte in 2024, in which she reportedly issued a dark, conditional threat against the lives of the President and the First Lady. While her legal team has dismissed these charges as the product of a 'politically motivated' witch hunt intended to disqualify a formidable frontrunner, the sheer volume of the petitions suggests a coordinated and sustained effort by her rivals to dismantle the Duterte political machinery.
Analysts view this early campaign launch as a maneuver to reframe the impeachment as a preemptive strike by the Manila elite against a popular provincial leader. In her traditional strongholds, particularly the island of Mindanao, the Duterte name remains a potent symbol of defiance against the central government. Supporters have already begun to mobilize, echoing the Vice President’s narrative that the legal challenges are not a matter of justice, but a calculated attempt to sideline the Duterte family before the next electoral cycle. This populist appeal remains the family’s most durable asset as the national political landscape becomes increasingly balkanized.
The friction between the two families is further exacerbated by the shadow of the Vice President’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. The younger Ms. Duterte’s announcement occurred just as her father prepares for a confirmation of charges hearing at the International Criminal Court in The Hague regarding the bloody anti-drug campaign that defined his presidency. The Marcos administration’s evolving stance toward the international investigation—moving from outright dismissal to a more nuanced cooperation with global legal bodies—has been a primary catalyst for the collapse of the 2022 coalition. For the Dutertes, the President’s failure to provide a total shield against international prosecution is viewed as a betrayal of the highest order.
The response from the Presidential Palace has been characterized by a studied, almost dismissive composure. A spokesperson for Mr. Marcos confirmed that the President had been apprised of Ms. Duterte’s candidacy and offered only a terse wish of 'good luck.' This brevity belies the gravity of the coming months. The House of Representatives, largely aligned with the President, is expected to proceed with its deliberations on the impeachment complaints with renewed vigor. The resulting proceedings are likely to be a protracted and vitriolic affair, testing the resilience of the nation’s democratic institutions.
As the Philippines prepares for what promises to be an exceptionally long and litigious campaign season, the stability of the current government remains in question. The 'UniTeam' that once promised a new era of national harmony has devolved into a bitter feud of succession and survival. With Ms. Duterte now an avowed candidate and a targeted official, the remainder of the Marcos term will likely be defined not by policy initiatives, but by a high-stakes legal and political struggle that will determine the future trajectory of the Republic. ©KuryenteNews