Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte on Tuesday dismissed the possibility of seeking higher office in the 2028 national elections, saying he is “tired and sick of it all.”
Duterte made the remark in a chance interview after visiting his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was elected Davao City mayor in the 2025 midterm polls but has yet to assume office due to detention in The Hague.
Asked if he would pursue a higher position following his sister Sara Duterte’s announcement of a 2028 presidential run, the mayor replied:
“Why would I? Hindi.”
“I’m f*king tired and sick of it all. Wala. Okay na yung Davao.”
He added that he could still serve under a future administration, provided the country elects a capable leader.
“I can always work under an administration… as long as the head of state is of sound mind, not this guy here in Malacañang right now,” he said.
“May mahalal tayo na maayos na Presidente, na talagang you know, that will take care of the money of the people tapos, you know, it’s well-allocated and the national government is somehow decentralized enough that you know, like the provinces will benefit from it, then why not?”
Duterte also said he and his father have not discussed politics.
“Wala kaming pinag-usapan na ganun ngayon. Maybe tomorrow, maybe some other day but… wala I’m just happy to see him,” he noted.