Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte said Monday she prays the presidential elections will push through in 2028, as she reaffirmed her intention to run for the country’s top post.
In an interview with Duterte supporters in The Hague, the vice president said she is already considered a presumptive candidate after declaring her plan to seek the presidency.
“I’m already a presumptive candidate because I declared my intention to run for the next presidential elections,” she said.
However, she tempered expectations, saying the conduct of the elections remains uncertain.
“We can only pray that there will be a presidential elections on 2028 and it will be honest, orderly, and peaceful,” Duterte added.
Her remarks come as she faces mounting political challenges back home, including consolidated impeachment complaints that were unanimously approved by the House Committee on Justice on May 4.
The panel’s report, which found probable cause to impeach the Vice President, is expected to be transmitted to the House plenary for a vote as early as this week.
Some lawmakers have expressed confidence that the complaints could advance as early as next week, potentially moving the process to the Senate for trial.
Under the Constitution, a conviction in an impeachment trial would result in removal from office and disqualification from holding any public office — effectively barring Duterte from a presidential run in 2028.
Duterte did not directly address the impeachment proceedings during the interview but earlier questioned statements from lawmakers expressing certainty about the outcome.
“Magiging iba siguro kung congressman o senador na ang nagsasabi mapapatanong ka bakit sobrang sigurado ka na tapos na ito,” she said.
[Translation: It’s different when it comes from a congressman or senator… you would ask why they are so certain that this is already over.]
The Vice President is currently in The Hague to visit her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is in custody and awaiting a status conference scheduled for May 27, before the International Criminal Court.
