Marilyn Cahatol

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

Jervis Manahan

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/177476395809520260218-vp-sara-duterte-presidency-MT (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" 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. Duterte outlines her priorities, including governance reforms, public service continuity, and national development. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/><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. Duterte outlines her priorities, including governance reforms, public service continuity, and national development.<em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s statement that she <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/28/sara-duterte-says-lawyers-who-filed-tro-vs-impeachment-did-not-consult-her-1733">was not consulted</a> by the lawyers who filed a petition for certiorari on impeachment proceedings against her is incredible, a lawmaker said.</p><p>In a message to ABS-CBN News, House Justice Committee member Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon said the petitioners themselves were with Duterte at the Araw ng Dabaw celebration on Sunday.</p><p>&quot;Walang maniniwalang walang alam ang Pangalawang Pangulo tungkol sa Supreme Court petition ng kanyang mga abogado at kaalyado,&quot; Ridon said.</p><p>(Nobody will believe the vice president had no knowledge about the Supreme Court petition by her lawyers and allies)</p><p>&quot;Lalo kung kasama pa niya kahapon sa entablado ng Araw ng Dabaw ang ilan sa mga petitioners ng kaso,&quot; he added.</p><p>(Especially since she was on stage at the Araw ng Dabaw with some of the petitioners)</p><p>On the sidelines of the same event, Duterte said in an ambush interview that she was not consulted before the lawyers filed the petition for the TRO at the Supreme Court.</p><p>However, she still thanked the lawyers for fighting what she said was an abuse of the impeachment process.</p><p>Justice Committee Vice Chair Ysabel Zamora of San Juan earlier said they are not convinced that the petition was only drafted after their first hearing on March 25, given it had more than a hundred pages.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/27/tro-sought-vs-sara-duterte-impeachment-proceedings-1411">Supreme Court asked to issue TRO vs Sara Duterte impeachment proceedings</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>POLITICAL FIGURES IN DAVAO</strong></div><p>Several political figures had lunch with Duterte in the same Araw ng Dabaw event, including congressmen Leandro Leviste of Batangas and Kiko Barzaga of Cavite.</p><p>Also in a photo of the lunch were lawyers Ferdinand Topacio, Vic Rodriguez, and Jimmy Bondoc, and former National Youth Commission chair Ronald Cardema.</p><p>Asked if there is a growing base of politician supporters, Duterte said she only met some of the political personalities that day.</p><p>&quot;We welcome everyone to the celebration of Araw ng Davao. Ang pagsasama at pag-uusap namin, lahat sila ay hindi ko kilala, hindi ko kaibigan,&quot; Duterte said.</p><p>(Our meeting and our conversations... I don&#x27;t know them, they are not my friends)</p><p>Former Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who was identified with the Robredo-Pangilinan campaign in the 2022 polls, also attended the event.</p><p>Duterte said it was only the second time that she met Guanzon, who she said was presiding officer at the Comelec when she registered her Hugpong ng Pagbabago party.</p><p>&quot;At hanggang doon lang yun, hindi pa nga kami nagkausap doon,&quot; Duterte said.</p><p>(And that was it. We didn&#x27;t even get to talk then)</p><p>She said she was surprised at the number of political visitors to Davao who declared their support for her planned presidential run in 2028 and to the call for justice for former President Rodrigo Duterte, whom his family and supporters maintain was kidnapped when he was arrested in March 2025 and brought to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands.</p><p>&quot;Kaya nakakataba ng puso na merong hindi taga-Davao na pareho ang nararamdaman ng karamihan ng mga Dabawenyo. Lalong-lalo na sa celebration ng Araw ng Davao,&quot; Duterte said.</p><p>(It is heartwarming to know that there are people from outside Davao who feel the same way as many Dabawenyos do. Especially during the celebration of Araw ng Davao)</p><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/PAocx9vnHA4?si=wptVzZyU2kuFOH_i" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte's statement that she <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/28/sara-duterte-says-lawyers-who-filed-tro-vs-impeachment-did-not-consult-her-1733">was not consulted</a> by the lawyers who filed a petition for certiorari on impeachment proceedings against her is incredible, a lawmaker said.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte's statement that she was not consulted by the lawyers who filed a petition for certiorari on impeachment proceedings against her is incredible, a lawmaker said.

Sara not consulted by lawyers who ran to SC? They were with her in Davao, says Ridon

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Sara not consulted by lawyers who ran to SC? They were with her in Davao, says Ridon

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 29, 2026 02:46 PM PHT

Read More:

Ridon

Duterte

Araw ng Dabaw

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.