The Palace reacted to the speech that Sara Duterte had
Vice President Sara Duterte officially announced her intention to run for President in the 2028 elections.
She held a press briefing on February 18, 2026, and pointed out several key statements regarding her political path and current status
In her speech, she also asked for forgiveness from Filipinos for helping Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. won the presidency in 2022. They were running mates, and their tandem one, but their Uniteam’s unity has long been gone.
Following the declaration of VP Sara’s aspiration to be the next President of the Philippines, the Malacañang released a statement through Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro.
Castro said that President Marcos heard what VP Sara Duterte declared, based on the report from GMA News Online.
“Nadinig niya po, at ang sabi niya po ay ‘good luck,’ ‘yun lamang po at nadinig niya po ang mga sinabing pinagsisisihan at humihingi ng kapatawaran itong si Bise Presidente,” the Press Officer Undersecretary stated.
In a report from News5, Castro also said that it is possible that the Vice President just wants to solicit support from lawmakers to weaken the impeachment complaint filed against him.
Catro also said that politicians who are already thinking about the next election often have personal interests.
“Ayun lang po ang nakikita natin kung bakit kinakailangan niyang magdeklara na siya ay tatakbo na sa pagkapangulo sa susunod na eleksyon,” the Palace official said.
Vice President Sara Duterte’s declaration about her future political plan received polarizing comments on social media. Her supporters evidently had positive reactions, and they’re looking forward to the following steps that would help her political career, while some echoed that she is just doing this to avoid legal issues.
