‘VP needed early declaration amid hounding issues’MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte resorted to the early declaration of her presidential bid in the 2028 elections amid issues hounding her and her family, according to an expert from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. “She needed it (early declaration of presidential bid) because there were events that were very related to her, at the ICC, the co-perpetrators were also mentioned by the ICC, then the impeachment proceedings against her. So, she needed to because if Bato and Bong Go are arrested, she would lose some of her loyalists (in the Senate),” Franco said. Franco said that the early presidential bid of Duterte is part of her strategy to influence not only the Senate and the House of Representatives, but all politicians. According to Franco, President Marcos still has powers despite his low ratings.

Source: Philippine Star February 19, 2026 16:35 UTC