Camille Naredo

Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Duterte outlines her priorities, including governance reforms, public service continuity, and national development. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP SARA DUTERTE

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177165338577120260218-vp-sara-duterte-presidency-MT4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em><em></em><strong><em></em></strong></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido &quot;Benny&quot; Abante Jr. expressed confidence that the House of Representatives can muster &quot;more than enough&quot; numbers to transmit the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate.</p><p>“I have to be very, very honest with this, na merong mga may ibang may reservation sapagkat, you know, 2028, election ‘yan. Pero sa aking papanaw, wala akong anumang kakaba-kaba na papasa ‘yan,” Abante said in a forum Saturday, February 21. </p><p>“Out of 311 congressmen, 105 lang ang kailangan, one-third eh to be able to pass it and let it go to the Senate for the impeachment court. So palagay ko makukuha namin ‘yun,” the lawmaker added, arguing that the House garnered over 215 votes in February 2025 that <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/5/house-impeaches-vp-sara-duterte-1551">impeached </a>Duterte.</p><p>Abante, along with House Deputy Speaker Francisco Paolo Ortega V, endorsed the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte on February 18 that was filed hours after the vice president <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/18/sara-duterte-to-run-for-president-1102">declared her intent to seek the presidency</a>.</p><p>While he was surprised with Duterte’s early declaration to run for president, the Manila representative believes this will not affect House members in deciding on the impeachment complaint.</p><p>ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio earlier said that Duterte’s announcement was a &quot;warning&quot; to the House of Representatives in connection with the impeachment complaints filed against her.</p><p>“Palagay ko, hindi naman siguro matatakot ang karamihan ng mga congressman sa kanyang pag-declare ng presidency kasi ang pinag-uusapan sa impeachment complaint hindi naman &#x27;yung 2028 kundi ‘yung 2026,” he said.</p><p>“The complaint is about her role as vice president. So ibig sabihin, hindi naman pwede na makalimutan ‘yung accountability niya just because she proclaimed to run for the presidency,” he said.</p><p>Should it reach the upper chamber, Abante hopes that the senators “will appreciate the facts, the evidence, the substance of the impeachment complaint.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/20/sara-duterte-s-presidential-bid-not-material-in-impeachment-proceedings-luistro-1409">Sara Duterte’s presidential bid ‘not material’ in impeachment proceedings, says House justice panel chair</a></div><div> </div><div><br/></div><div><strong>’BLESSING IN DISGUISE’</strong></div><p>Abante also believes that Duterte’s early declaration of presidential bid could be a &quot;blessing in disguise&quot; to whoever will run against her.</p><p>“This will expose the vice president to a lot of questions she should be answering,” the lawmaker said.</p><p>He urged Duterte to be &quot;transparent&quot; and &quot;accountable&quot; should the impeachment complaints against her reach the Senate for trial.</p><p>“Kung wala siyang tinatago, kung talagang ang kanyang ginawa ay above board ‘yan, eh sabihin na niya. Sa impeachment court na ito, kung ‘yan papasok sa impeachment court, maging transparent na siya, maging accountable na siya, para malaman ng taumbayan ‘oh magandang maging pangulo ito’,” Abante said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘MISGUIDED GAMBLE’</strong></div><p>In the same forum, former Albay Representative Joey Salceda called Duterte’s early pronouncement that she will seek the presidency an &quot;ill-advised move&quot; and a &quot;misguided gamble.&quot;</p><p>“Hanggang June 2028 si Marcos pa rin ang presidente. I once worked with her (Duterte), pero this time around, I think it is hindi OA (overacting) magsabi na it is an ill-advised move. I think it is a misguided gamble,” he said.</p><p>Salceda publicly supported Duterte in the 2022 elections and fellow Bicolano former Vice President Leni Robredo for president. Prior to the filing of candidacies, Salceda once declared Duterte would run for president.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/18/is-imee-marcos-open-to-run-as-sara-duterte-s-vice-president-1648">Is Imee Marcos open to run as Sara Duterte&#x27;s vice-president?</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j6GjWol-uxo?si=9hO4gMewo0dWTfD9" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. expressed confidence that the House of Representatives can muster ‘more than enough’ numbers to transmit the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate.</p>

Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. expressed confidence that the House of Representatives can muster ‘more than enough’ numbers to transmit the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate.

Abante confident House can muster ‘more than enough’ votes on Sara Duterte impeach raps

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Abante confident House can muster ‘more than enough’ votes on Sara Duterte impeach raps

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 21, 2026 02:00 PM PHT

Read More:

Benny Abante

Sara Duterte

impeachment

Joey Salceda

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