Sara Duterte is Running for President in What Analysts Call a Brutal Political Brawl
The VP's impeachment and mounting legal troubles may only strengthen her presidential bid, as her camp spins every controversy as political persecution ahead of 2028.
by JV Ordoñez
Published on Feb 20, 2026
The embattled Vice President Sara Duterte earlier this week announced her plans to run for President in 2028, despite her impeachment troubles, her clan's rift with the Marcoses, and mounting legal controversies.
Duterte has been a consistent frontrunner for the forthcoming elections even before dropping the bombshell announcement.
This raises the question of what her motives are and what gameplan she is setting into motion with a presidential bid that actually favors her to win, with uncertainties surrounding Marcos allies and a political opposition that may have to scramble for candidates to counter her.
Esquire Philippines spoke with political analysts on the risky move that may see her seize the race before it even begins.
"I am sensing that she is already considering resignation, especially if the trajectory of the impeachment proceedings points clearly toward conviction," Arjan Aguirre, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.
"The overlap of impeachment proceedings and international legal developments strengthens the perception among her supporters that legal and institutional processes are being mobilized within a broader contest over succession and coalition realignment in the run-up to 2028."
A fourth impeachment complaint against the Vice President was sent to the office of Speaker Bojie Dy III on Feb. 19, accusing Duterte of omitting certain assets, bank accounts, cash holdings, and property transactions in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
Deputy Speaker Francisco Paolo Ortega V, who endorsed the complaint, said it was not a conviction and that her recent presidential bid declaration would not affect impeachment proceedings.
Under the 1987 Constitution, an official can be impeached over treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, and betrayal of public trust, all of which the Vice President has consistently denied.
Duterte was impeached by the House last year after more than a third of congressmen backed a complaint sent to the Senate. The Supreme Court eventually threw out the case for bypassing constitutional rules.
The VP is the first major political player to declare her plans to run for the country's highest post as her rival President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s six-year term nears its end. The President has yet to endorse a successor.
According to Michael Henry Yusingco, a constitutionalist and senior research fellow at the Ateneo Policy Center, Duterte is not necessarily running away from persecution, despite the risk of her impeachment case shrinking her pool of financial backers.
"She has no choice but to be as vitriolic in her response. She might need to reveal more damning information that led to the UniTeam and its disintegration," he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.
"The VP is now facing a brutal political fight."
Duterte has expressed regret over running in tandem with Marcos in 2022, despite their landslide victory. She said the President failed to fulfill his campaign promises and alleged he was involved in the large-scale corruption scheme linked to the 2025 national budget.
"I cannot kneel before every Filipino to ask for forgiveness," Duterte said during the press briefing where she announced her bid.
"Instead, I offer my life, my strength, and my future in service to our nation."
The Duterte-Marcos rift stemmed from the International Criminal Court's arrest of Marcos' predecessor and Sara's father Rodrigo Duterte, who is accused of crimes against humanity over his deadly anti-illegal drug campaign.
Marcos earlier this month faced impeachment complaints of his own, which were eventually dismissed by the House Justice Committee for lack of substance.
"A formal early declaration allows her to seize the initiative and shape the political terrain on her own terms," said Aguirre.
"Invoking this familiar narrative enables her camp to argue that actions taken against her are less about accountability than about undermining a formidable candidate ahead of 2028."
READ MORE:
Why the DND is Blaming 'Foreign Actors' for Alleged Plans to Overthrow Marcos Administration
With P4 Billion in Assets Frozen, Are Flood Control Schemers' Days Numbered?
Why Are Philippine Lawmakers Disclosing Their Net Worths?
Is Sen. Kiko Pangilinan Right to Question Landbank's Approval of P500-Million Cash-Outs?