Vice President Sara Duterte says she is considering running for president in the 2028 national elections.
In a meet-and-greet with overseas Filipino workers in Tokyo, Japan, Duterte was asked if she will run for president in 2028. She replied, “Yes, ma’am, we are seriously considering it,” as the room erupted in cheers. “Kasi hindi pwede ‘yong tuloy-tuloy ‘yong nangyayari ngayon, ma’am.”
“I really believe our country will be great,” she said. “Mahirap siyang ipaintindi sa ating mga kababayan and mahirap ‘yong kailangan natin gawin kasi you really have to stand firm especially with government policies para maayos siya. Pero paniwala ko, kung magkaisa lang ‘yong mga tao, alam natin kung saan tayo papunta, magagawa ng ating bayan.”
Duterte was in Japan for a “private trip” over the weekend and returned on Monday, January 13. SMNI News, the media arm of Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, covered the meet-and-greet on their social media channels.
In September 2024, Duterte said that she would not announce plans for the 2028 elections until 2026. After a hearing at the House of Representatives on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) budget, she told reporters, “Sa ngayon, this very minute, magsasabi ako kung tatakbo ako sa fourth quarter ng 2026.”
She added that the OVP budget probe would be used against her in impeachment efforts. “Nagpa-practice sila kung ano iyong kakagat sa impeachment,” she said. “Kahit anong gawin nila, wala talaga kaming ginawang mali sa Office of the Vice President.”
Duterte’s Impeachment Complaints
Duterte currently faces three impeachment complaints, all of which were filed in December 2024, following the House probe into the OVP and the Department of Education’s misuse of confidential funds. All complaints filed by Catholic church leaders, former lawmakers, lawyers, and civil society leaders cite betrayal of public trust, bribery, graft and corruption, and culpable violation of the Constitution as grounds for her impeachment.

On Friday, January 10, House Secretary General Reggie Velasco said that the impeachment complaints were ready to be transmitted to the Office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez. “So far naman, itong tatlo, they constitute as verified complaint[s] based on the evaluation of the legal department… Pwede na i-transmit at any time,” he told reporters. He also said that wanted to give House members time to endorse the previously filed impeachment complaints or file another one.
On Monday, January 13, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) held their “National Rally for Peace,” protesting the impeachment raps against Duterte. According to police estimates, 1.5 million people attended the event at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila.
Duterte thanked the religious group in a video statement, calling the rally a strong display of unity and faith. “Ito ay isang makapangyarihang pagpapakita ng pagkakaisa at pananampalataya na ang tanging hangad lamang ay kapayapaan tungo sa kaunlaran ng ating bansa,” she said. “Maraming salamat sa inyong malasakit sa bayan.”