Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe width="1022" height="575" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RyrE8-4rgKU" title="FULL: Sara Duterte to run for president in 2028" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte’s announcement of her 2028 presidential bid may affect how lawmakers will vote on the pending impeachment complaints against her, House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor said Wednesday.</p><p>But Defensor gave assurances that the House Committee on Justice would be “objective” in deliberating on the complaints.</p><p>“It&#x27;s a strategic decision to strengthen her following, lalo na may mga impeachment complaints na nakahain laban sa kanya… It&#x27;s an advantage for her right now… It will not affect how the process will go in terms of hearing it, in terms of deliberations in the Committee on Justice. But I can tell you that it may affect how the voting will come out,” admitted Defensor, a former House impeachment prosecutor. </p><p>“It becomes an advantage for her because… walang matatag na posibleng tumakbong presidente laban kay Vice President Sara. Kaya pag-declare niya, sa palagay ko, it&#x27;s a natural course for Filipinos to gravitate to the one who is doing well in their ratings,” he added.</p><div><a 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><p>“The reality is, the Vice President is doing very well in terms of her ratings. And there are provinces and regions that are very close to the Vice President. Maaapektuhan sila kung sakaling bumoto sila against the Vice President. We cannot discount that possibility. And we also have to take into consideration na malapit na ang 2028. But I can assure you that as far as the Committee on Justice is concerned, the Chairman and its members will be objective in hearing and deliberating the impeachment complaints based on the Constitution,” Defensor noted.</p><p>The three impeachment complaints filed against Duterte have yet to be referred by the House plenary to the House Committee on Justice. Until the referral, additional complaints may still be filed. </p><p>But unlike last Congress, Defensor doubts at least a third of the lower chamber will endorse a fresh complaint and avail of the “express” route to impeach the VP.</p><p>“As of today, malabo ‘yung express na may one-third endorsement and immediate transmittal to the Senate for trial. I cannot see getting one-third of endorsements from the members of the House of Representatives… We have to accept the fact that many members of the House were dismayed with how the impeachment complaint last year was handled,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Ang Senado, hindi nila tinupad ang kanilang tungkulin under the Constitution. Kahit ang Presidente na nagsabing may mananagot, he did not pursue. He said that he will be independent and will leave it to the House of Representatives. And the Supreme Court itself said that the impeachment complaint was void. So, right now, if we&#x27;re going to do it all over again, I can honestly tell you that it will only… at least today, it will only be referred to the Committee on Justice,” he added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>“DIVERSION”, “THREAT”</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>At least one House minority lawmaker sees the Vice President’s announcement of her intent to run for President as a “threat” amid the impending impeachment proceedings against her.</p><p>Congressmen from the Makabayan bloc, who endorsed an impeachment complaint against Duterte, tagged the VP’s pronouncement as “premature”, and a “desperate attempt to control the narrative, portray herself as a victim of political persecution, and shield herself from accountability” amid allegations of corruption, misuse of confidential funds, and betrayal of public trust.</p><p>“Pusit tactics na naman ito, para siya ang pag-usapan at ipakita na inaapi siya kuno...  I’m sure kasama ‘yun sa kalkulasyon niya na panakot doon sa mga kongresista na baka magdadalawang-isip dahil tatakbong Presidente itong si Vice President Sara Duterte. Pero sa totoo lang, wa epek ‘yan,” ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/18/hontiveros-says-opposition-may-name-standard-bearer-by-yearend-or-early-2027-1404">Hontiveros says opposition may name standard bearer by yearend or early 2027</a></div><p>“This is a distraction… Mayroon ngayong nilabas na announcement that is premature and providing intention na may higher ambitions si VP Sara Duterte,” Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co added.</p><p> “It may also be a desperate attempt to divert attention away from the real issue that is the questionable use of the confidential intelligence funds of the OVP and the DepEd budget, the use of fake names, as well as ‘yung pagsasa-walang bahala po sa mga proseso ng checks and balances at accountability, tulad ng pagpapaliwanag mismo kung paano ginagastos ang pondo ng taong bayan,” Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said. </p><p>Duterte has denied mishandling funds. </p><p>Elago and Co said the challenge to lawmakers now is to deliberate and decide on the pending impeachment complaints against Duterte based on evidence and on their conscience, and not on their political ambitions.</p><p>“Hamon din ‘yan talaga dito sa mga member ng Kongreso na ipakita nila ‘yung kanilang pagiging tapat doon sa sinumpaang tungkulin na magsilbi sa interes ng taumbayan at hindi ‘yung mga pansariling interes,” the Gabriela solon said.</p><p>“May confidence kami na kung… aakto at boboto ang ating mga kongresista ayon sa kanilang konsensya or even sa kanilang prinsipyo… magtuloy-tuloy ang impeachment process, magtuloy-tuloy ito sa impeachment trial, and even sa removal from office,” Co added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>NOT SURPRISED</strong></div><div> </div><p>ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña, endorsers of a complaint against the Vice President, are not surprised by Duterte’s announcement. But they said it would be better if the VP faces and answers first the corruption allegations against her.</p><p>“Ginagamit niya ‘yung pagtakbo para sa Presidente para palusot doon sa nahaharap na pagpapanagot sa kanya kasi naghahanap talaga ang taumbayan ng katotohanan doon sa mga kasong tinatakbuhan niya,” Cendaña said.</p><p>“Hindi na tayo nagulat dyan. Karapatan naman nyang magdeklara kahit napakaaga. Tulad ng karapatan din ng mga Pilipino na singilin sya sa mga seryosong alegasyon ng katiwalian at paglabag sa batas—na panawagan na po natin noong 2024 pa. Mas magandang harapin at sagutin muna niya ang mga ito bago ang ambisyon na maging Pangulo ng Pilipinas,” De Lima said in a statement.</p><div> </div><div><strong>NOT HARASSMENT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V, meanwhile, asserted that asking questions about confidential and intelligence funds is a Constitutional mandate of Congress, and not a form of harassment. He added, running for President is a “democratic right”.</p><p>“If one chooses to run for President, that is a democratic right. But the public deserves clarity: the break from the administration was triggered by accountability measures — not by a sudden discovery of corruption or inefficiency,” Ortega said.</p><p>“Congress has the constitutional mandate to scrutinize public expenditures. Asking questions about confidential and intelligence funds is not harassment. It is governance… The impeachment process is constitutional. It is not political theater. The complaint centered on alleged misuse and failure to properly account for confidential and intelligence funds — not on partisan differences,” he added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>SUPPORT</strong></div><div> </div><p>Pwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat (PPP) party-list Rep. Harold Duterte welcomed the announcement of his cousin, VP Duterte.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/18/sara-duterte-to-run-for-president-1102">Sara Duterte to run for president</a></div><p>“We are proud to support VP Sara Z. Duterte in her bid for the Presidency in 2028. She is a proven and battle-tested leader who will continue to fight for the country and its people. Despite the challenges and personal attacks that she has faced in office, she continues to serve, without much fanfare, and just gets the job done,” the PPP representative said.</p><p>“As the Philippines is at a critical point of its history, we stand behind the Vice-president, and hope that she can lead us out of the scandals that have rocked the current administration,” he added.</p>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte’s announcement of her presidential bid may affect how lawmakers will vote on the pending impeachment complaints against her, according to House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and former House impeachment prosecutor Lorenz Defensor.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte’s announcement of her presidential bid may affect how lawmakers will vote on the pending impeachment complaints against her, according to House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and former House impeachment prosecutor Lorenz Defensor.

Sara Duterte announcement of presidential bid may affect voting on impeachment— solon

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Sara Duterte announcement of presidential bid may affect voting on impeachment— solon

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 18, 2026 04:29 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

Sara Duterte

Impeachment

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.