Sara Duterte Will Run for President in 2028
This follows new impeachment complaints filed last February.
Published on Feb 18, 2026
(SPOT.ph) Sara Duterte has announced she’s running for president in 2028.
In a press conference on February 18, the vice president read a prepared statement in which she apologized to the nation for poor flood infrastructure, rising prices, weak healthcare, and a lack of an independent foreign policy. She went on to accuse Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. of corruption, saying he had not lived up to promises made during their 2022 UniTeam alliance—the partnership that delivered them a landslide victory in the last national elections.
“I cannot kneel before each and every Filipino to beg for forgiveness. Instead, I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation. Para sa Diyos, para sa Bayan, at para sa bawat Pamilyang Pilipino. Ako si Sara Duterte, tatakbo bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas.”
After delivering the statement, she did not take questions from reporters.
The announcement positions Duterte as a prominent contender in the 2028 race, more than two years before the official campaign period. Surveys over the past year have consistently placed her among the top preferred bets for president.
Also read: Sara Duterte Is Impeached by the House—What Happens Next?
The past few months for Sara Duterte
That 2028 bid now moves forward with unresolved legal issues still hanging over the Vice President.
In December 2024, several complaints were filed accusing her of misuse of confidential funds allocated to both the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, where she previously served as secretary. One of the most cited issues involved P125 million in confidential funds that were reportedly spent within 11 days. The complaints also raised allegations of unexplained wealth, pointing to supposed discrepancies between her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) and her actual assets.
In February 2025, the House of Representatives impeached her based on a complaint signed by more than 200 lawmakers—making her the first vice president in Philippine history to be impeached.
However, the Supreme Court voided the impeachment case in July 2025, saying it could not proceed because of a constitutional rule that limits how often impeachment complaints can be filed within a year. That decision stopped the trial in the Senate, barring new complaints until early 2026.
New impeachment complaints were filed again in February 2026, bringing the issue back into focus just weeks before her presidential announcement.
Duterte has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that these impeachment efforts are politically motivated attempts to undermine her.
Also read: Why Does VP Duterte's Isang Kaibigan Have a P10 Million Budget?
Micah believes that writing is always political. Beyond the byline, you’ll find her bruising herself on a pole or doting on her beagle. Reach her at micah@spot.ph.