Vice President Sara Duterte revealed that her supporters have set a deadline of December 2026 for her to decide whether to run for president in 2028.
She stated that she has more than a year to weigh the pros and cons, just as she did in 2021 when considering a presidential bid.
Calls for her candidacy in the 2028 election have intensified following the overwhelming victory of all the candidates she endorsed in the recent May polls.
“As I’ve said before—back in 2019, when asked about running for senator, I said no. In 2022, I was asked if I’d run for president, and I made it clear as early as January 2021 that I would not. My decision to run as vice president was influenced by circumstances that unfolded after the filing deadline. Now, for 2028, my supporters have given me until December 2026 to decide. If I don’t make a decision by then, they will look for another presidential candidate. So, I still have more than a year,” she explained.
OVP Activities in Doha, Qatar
The vice president also shared that one of the upcoming initiatives of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) includes a visit to her supporters in Doha, Qatar.
“Our next official activities for the OVP will take place in June. However, by the end of May, we will visit Doha, Qatar. If you remember, some supporters were detained there, but they have since been released. We still want to visit them to offer comfort and acknowledge everything they went through,” she said.
Last month, 17 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were reportedly arrested for participating in an unauthorized rally in support of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In connection with her visit, Duterte announced that a thanksgiving event will be held in Qatar on May 27.
Rally in The Hague
On May 31, a rally titled “ICC, Send FPRRD Home” will take place in The Hague, Netherlands.
“I won’t be celebrating my birthday this year—everything is focused on the ICC case. After that, we will continue holding rallies in different countries under the same theme, ‘Send Him Home.’ We’re currently working on securing permits from the local governments in those locations,” she said.
