Vice President Sara Duterte announced her 2028 presidential bid on February 18 as renewed impeachment efforts moved forward in the House.
Announcement comes as new impeachment complaint is filed in the House.
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, February 18, formally declared her intention to run for president in the May 2028 national elections, becoming the first major national figure to publicly signal a bid for the country’s highest office in the next electoral cycle.
Duterte made the announcement during a public address, saying she was offering her “life, strength and future” in service of the Filipino people. She acknowledged political developments since the 2022 elections and spoke about the direction of national governance, framing her decision as a response to current conditions.
Duterte was elected vice president in 2022 as part of a joint ticket with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Under the 1987 Constitution, the president is limited to a single six-year term and is not eligible to seek reelection in 2028.
Fourth impeachment complaint filed
Hours after Duterte’s announcement, lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera filed what House records and multiple Philippine news organizations described as the fourth impeachment complaint against the vice president in the current cycle. The complaint was endorsed by Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. and La Union 1st District Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega V, who serves as deputy speaker.
Under Article XI of the Constitution, any citizen may file an impeachment complaint with the endorsement of a House member. The House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate impeachment proceedings, while the Senate has the sole authority to try and decide impeachment cases. Conviction requires a two-thirds vote of all senators.
An impeachment complaint constitutes an allegation and does not, by itself, establish wrongdoing.
Public reporting on previous impeachment efforts referenced allegations involving the use of confidential funds and claims of betrayal of public trust. Duterte has previously denied allegations of impropriety and characterized impeachment moves as politically motivated.
Constitutional context
The renewed filing follows prior rulings by the Supreme Court of the Philippines involving earlier impeachment efforts.
In July 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that a previous impeachment process violated constitutional safeguards, citing the one-year bar that prohibits initiating impeachment proceedings against the same official more than once within a year. On January 29, 2026, the Court announced that it had denied with finality the House’s motion for reconsideration of that ruling.
The latest complaint was filed following the lapse of the period referenced in the Court’s earlier decision.
Political implications
Duterte’s early declaration places her at the forefront of what is expected to be a closely watched 2028 presidential race. Political analysts interviewed by international and local media described the move as significant, noting that it situates ongoing legislative proceedings within a broader electoral context.
As of this writing, House leadership has not announced a timetable for referring the complaint to the appropriate committee. Any impeachment process would proceed under constitutional and House rules, with potential transmission to the Senate if approved by the House.
