DU30 to run for VP or senator if daughter impeached; Sara will support him

With former president Rodrigo Duterte hinting that a Duterte-Duterte tandem in the 2028 national elections could be imminent, Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, Nov. 21, assured that their family will fully support the former chief executive’s political plans.

(From left) Former president Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte (Presidential Photo)

“Kung anuman iyong desisyon ni pangulong Duterte ay buo ang suporta ng pamilya sa kanya (Whatever the decision of president Duterte, the family wholly supports him),” the Vice President said after her father disclosed in a televised interview that he was contemplating on seeking public office anew if Sara is impeached.

“Just like kung anuman ‘yung desisyon din namin ng mga anak regarding sa pulitika, buo din ang suporta ng pamilya sa amin. Ganun din ang suporta namin sa desisyon ni pangulong Duterte (Just like whatever our decision as his children regarding politics, the family fully supports us. We also support the decision of president Duterte in the same way).”

The former president’s interview on SMNI’s “Gikan ng Masa, Para sa Masa” came amid reports of possible impeachment raps that could be filed against his daughter because of the December 2022 confidential funds transferred to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) by the Office of the President (OP).

“Alam mo, ‘pag ginawa ninyo iyan (impeachment), babalik ako sa pulitika. Mapilitan ako, either I run for senator or I will run for vice president maski matanda na ako (You know, if you do that [impeachment], I will return to politics. I will be forced, either I run for senator or I will run for vice president even if I am old),” he warned.

An impeachment rap against the Vice President will force the former president out of retirement, he said, adding that mudslinging will start with the election “just around the corner.”

“I do not lose anything, I’m retired. Pero pagdating niyan na buhay pa ‘ko, ‘pag wala pa akong dementia, tatakbo akong vice president… Kung si Inday ang presidente, okay lang (When that time comes and I am still alive, if I don’t have dementia yet, I will run as vice president… If Inday is running for president, it’s okay).”

The younger Duterte, for her part, said their whole family will support her father’s political plans.

During the interview, the elder Duterte explained that the transfer of funds from President Marcos’ office should be the one being audited.

He said that the funds from the OP should be audited first and monitored if it went to corruption or was spent for government programs.

“Then, you go to impeachment. You cannot go into a guessing game na basta na lang i-impeach (you will just impeach), for what? Intelligence fund? Binigay sa’yo eh. Bakit mo ibigay sa akin kung hindi ko gastusin (It was given. Why will you give it to me if I cannot spend it)?,” he asked.

Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the former president’s friend and host of the show, alleged that the “enemies of the state who are legally covered because they are in the Congress, made a big issue out of this” to destroy the younger Duterte’s reputation.

The transfer of P125-million confidential funds from the OP to the OVP, which was spent in just 19 days, in December 2022 is now the basis of a petition filed before the Supreme Court by legal experts.

Reports of a pending impeachment case against the Vice President because of the issue have been making rounds, with ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro admitting it was mentioned in casual conversations.