10-3-2025 (MANILA) Vice President Sara Duterte has subtly indicated her presidential aspirations for 2028 whilst addressing Filipino expatriates in Hong Kong. The revelation came during a thanksgiving gathering organised by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, primarily supporting PDP Laban senatorial candidates in the upcoming midterm elections.
The political landscape has grown increasingly complex since the deterioration of Duterte’s alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., culminating in her recent impeachment by the House of Representatives. The charges levelled against her include alleged assassination plotting and substantial corruption claims, matters which she has subsequently challenged in the Supreme Court.
During her address, Duterte shared a revealing conversation with Apollo Quiboloy, the KOJC founder and senatorial hopeful, regarding her decision to forgo the 2022 presidential race in favour of partnering with Marcos Jr. According to Duterte, Quiboloy’s counsel suggested divine timing in her political trajectory, asserting that others needed to precede her leadership to break cycles of national hardship.
The gathering, dubbed “Pasasalamat kay PRRD,” saw notable attendance from PDP Laban senatorial candidates, including entertainer Jimmy Bondoc, Representative Rodante Marcoleta, and Senator Bong Go, amongst others. The Vice President’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was also present at the event.
Amidst the ongoing constitutional crisis, Duterte has questioned the procedural validity of her impeachment, particularly concerning the fourth complaint that received endorsement from 215 representatives. She maintains that House Secretary General Reginal Velasco failed to properly transmit the initial three complaints to Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The Vice President’s Hong Kong appearance, whilst ostensibly a thanksgiving event, served as a platform to maintain connections with overseas Filipino workers, who have historically been crucial supporters of the Duterte political brand. Her playful yet telling reference to 2028 electoral plans drew enthusiastic responses from attendees, who responded with spirited chants of “Duterte, Duterte.”
