No political alliances for now – Duterte

Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte said she is ruling out political alliances ahead of the midterm polls, especially after parting ways with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 25, Duterte said she is focused on “defending” the Office of the Vice President amid supposed attacks against it.

Duterte is at odds with a number of House lawmakers over her budget spending in previous years. The House of Representatives slashed the vice president’s 2025 budget by nearly P1.3 billion – from the proposed P2.04 billion to just P733 million.

“Ang sinasabi ko nga noon, I am single and ready to mingle…Kailangan ko munang ayusin at ipagtanggol ang Office of the Vice President. So nandoon tayo sa protect the Office of the Vice President na isa sa mga duties ng vice president,” she said.

[Translation: As I said before, I am single and ready to mingle… I need to fix and defend the Office of the Vice President. So we’re focused on protecting the Office of the Vice President, which is one of my duties.]

Duterte also said she has neither endorsed nor formed a senatorial lineup.

The vice president earlier said she was invited by Marcos and her father – former President Rodrigo Duterte to join their respective alliances.

Visiting Robredo part of my duties

Last week, Duterte visited former Vice President Leni Robredo during the Peñafrancia religious festival in Bicol.

In the briefing, Duterte said the meeting was part of her duties as vice president to visit her predecessors. The vice president said she also visited ex-vice presidents Teofisto Guingona, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“Anong purpose ng pagbisita ko? Nagpapakilala ako na ako iyong vice president. At sinasabihan namin sila na as former vice presidents, we owe it to them na kung may kailangan sila, susuportahan namin sila,” she said.

[Translation: What’s the purpose of my visit? I am introducing myself as vice president. I’m telling them that as former vice presidents, we owe it to them and we are here to support them if they need something.]

Robredo’s camp earlier said the meeting was personal and nothing political. The former vice president, now seeking the mayoral post in Naga City, was politically estranged from then President Duterte.