Jamaine Punzalan

Vice President Sara Duterte announces her presidential run. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

Agence France-Presse

<div><iframe width="1023" height="575" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s7E7rGDaQew" title="Sara Duterte sinabing &#x27;hindi tapat sa bayan&#x27; si Marcos  | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte said Wednesday she would run for president of the nation of 116 million. </p><p>In a brief speech, Duterte accused Marcos of corruption and alleged he had failed to live up to his word during their brief alliance. She also apologized for teaming up with Marcos in the 2022 presidential elections that saw their landslide victory.</p><p>“I cannot kneel before each and every Filipino to beg for forgiveness. Instead, I offer my life, my strength, and my future in the service of our nation,” Duterte said. </p><p>“Mga kababayan, ibalik natin ang tapang at malakasakit para sa Diyos, para sa bayan, at para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Ako si Sara Duterte, tatakbo bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas,” she said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/4/sws-4-in-10-filipinos-satisfied-with-marcos-performance-at-end-of-2025-1455">SWS: 4 in 10 Filipinos satisfied with Marcos&#x27; performance at end of 2025</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/25/sara-duterte-says-ready-to-be-president-if-marcos-jr-resigns-1943">Sara Duterte says &#x27;ready&#x27; to be President if Marcos Jr. resigns</a></div><p>Michael Henry Yusingco, senior research fellow at the Ateneo Policy Center, told AFP the campaign announcement was a &quot;big risk&quot; but that her solid base of support in family stronghold Mindanao gave her a real advantage.</p><p>&quot;Conventional thinking would say she has the best chance of winning. Survey numbers are in her favor,&quot; he said, while adding her father&#x27;s physical absence could discourage supporters.</p><p>Yusingco added that the Marcos administration was now likely to become more openly hostile.</p><p>&quot;Behind the scenes, they&#x27;ll probably push for her impeachment,&quot; he said.</p><p>Duterte was impeached last year only to see the country&#x27;s<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/6/senators-voting-on-marcoleta-motion-to-archive-sara-duterte-impeachment-1906"> Supreme Court throw the case out </a>over procedural issues.</p><p><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/10/third-impeachment-complaint-vs-sara-duterte-transmitted-to-speaker-s-office-1236">Fresh impeachment complaints</a> were filed against her this month, citing alleged anomalies in the use of confidential funds and her supposed death threat against Marcos — charges she has denied.</p><p>Under the Philippine constitution, an impeachment triggers a Senate trial. A guilty verdict would see Duterte barred from politics and sidelined from a potential 2028 presidential run.</p><p>“Matagal na akong inaatake gamit ang buong makinarya ng kapangyarihan — mula sa mga scripted na imbestigasyon na ibinalot sa katagang ‘in aid of legislation,’ sa pagkidnap ng aking ama, hanggang sa mga samu&#x27;t saring paratang na pilit inuulit-ulit hanggang magmukhang totoo,” the vice president said in her first press conference this year.</p><p>“Marahil ay matagal na rin akong hinatulan sa mata ng iilan. Hindi ako kailanman natakot sa pagsira nila ng pangalan ko ngunit may takot ako para sa ating mga anak, may takot ako para sa mga susunod na henerasyon,” she said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/18/transcript-sara-duterte-announces-presidential-run-1143">TRANSCRIPT: Sara Duterte announces presidential run</a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;PATAWAD&#x27; </strong></div><p>Duterte underscored that she was very frustrated over Marcos’ presidency, noting the supposed lack of proper healthcare, infrastructure, and anti-criminality policies. </p><p>“Mga kababayan, humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa inyong lahat. Patawad kung tinulungan kong mahalal si BBM (Bongbong Marcos) bilang Pangulo ng ating bansa,” she said.</p><p>“Patawad kung hanggang ngayon ay marami pa ring Pilipino ang nalulunod sa baha nang dahil sa malawakang korapsyon. Patawad kung lantaran ang pang-aabuso sa ating mga institusyon para sa pansariling interes ng mga pulitiko,” she said.</p><p>“Patawad kung patuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin habang nananatiling kapos ang kita ng bawat pamilya. Patawad kung wala man lang tayong tunay na seguridad sa pagkain,” she added.</p><p>Duterte bolted from Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet in mid-2024 after months of word war over the administration’s rumored plans to have her father former president Rodrigo Duterte arrested to face crimes against humanity charges before the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/14/icc-prosecutors-submit-second-updated-evidence-list-ahead-of-duterte-case-hearing-2312">International Criminal Court.</a></p><p>The Vice President refused to take questions from the media after delivering her statement. </p><p>The Office of the Vice President has yet to confirm if Duterte will travel to the Hague to attend her father’s confirmation of charges hearing starting February 23.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/17/drug-war-victims-kin-supporters-mount-anti-troll-networks-ahead-of-duterte-s-icc-appearance-1607">Drug war victims&#x27; kin, supporters mount anti-troll networks ahead of Duterte&#x27;s ICC appearance</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/14/what-charges-does-duterte-face-at-icc-court-releases-document-0813">ICC Prosecution document names Bato, Go and others as &#x27;co-perpetrators&#x27; in drug war deaths</a></div><p>The hearing, taking place over four days, will determine whether there is enough evidence against the Duterte patriarch to proceed to a trial.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DEFLECTING FROM IMPEACHMENT? </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, progressive groups and some lawmakers said Duterte’s announcement was possibly aimed at influencing ongoing impeachment proceedings against her.</p><p>“Talaga namang expected na sa 2028 ay tatakbong presidente si Sara Duterte and in fact, it&#x27;s one of the reasons bakit ang grupong katulad namin ay nag-file ng impeachment complaint para pigilan ang kaniyang pagtakbo bilang presidente,&quot; BAYAN chairperson Teddy Casiño said. </p><p>Rep. Antonio Tinio also questioned the timing of Duterte’s announcement.</p><p>“Sino ngayon dito ang namumulitika e 2026 pa lang sinabi na niyang tatakbo siyang presidente. Pinapakita niyo wala siyang inaatupag kundi ang mamulitika,&quot; Tinio said.</p><p>“Malinaw na kalkulado yung timing ng impeachment ay bago isalang at lumarga yung impeachment complaint laban sa kanya sa Kongreso siguro tingin niya matatakot niya masisindak niya yung mga kongresista dahil tumatakbo siyang presidente,&quot; he said.</p><p>Lawyer and human rights advocate Tony La Viña said the timing was also significant in light of upcoming legal developments involving former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court.</p><p>&quot;Mahalaga din ang timing dahil sa confirmation of charges hearing ni Pangulong Duterte next week sa February 23. Kasi mukhang ang stratergy nila ay political dahil talo sila lagi sa legal sa ICC,&quot; he said.</p><p>Labor leader and activist Leody de Guzman described the presidential bid as a diversionary tactic.</p><p>“Simple lang &#x27;yan countermove ni Sara dun sa masasalang siya sa impaachment para ipihit ang atensyon ng mga mamamayan sa 2028. Kaya dapat itulak natin si Sara ay dapat ma-impeach,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Izzy Lee, ABS-CBN News </strong></div>

Sara Duterte to run for president

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Sara Duterte to run for president

Jamaine Punzalan,

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News,

Agence France-Presse

Published February 18, 2026 11:02 AM PHT

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Updated February 18, 2026 03:13 PM PHT

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