Members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives on Wednesday accused Vice President Sara Duterte of using her early announcement of a 2028 presidential run as a calculated move to deflect attention from impeachment proceedings and portray herself as a political victim.
In a statement, the progressive lawmakers said Duterte’s premature declaration was intended to frame the impeachment process as political harassment rather than a constitutional mechanism for accountability.
“Vice President Duterte’s premature declaration—more than two years before the 2028 elections—is not about serving the Filipino people,” the group said.
“It is about framing the impeachment proceedings as purely political harassment rather than what they truly are: A constitutional process to hold an impeachable official accountable for grave offenses,” they added.
“Huwag nyong linlangin ang mamamayan, Madam Vice President. Ang impeachment laban sa inyo ay hindi pulitika—ito ay tungkol sa pananagutan. This is about millions of pesos in confidential funds you cannot account for,” the lawmakers stressed.
The bloc said the impeachment efforts aim to investigate allegations that Duterte received campaign funds from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and individuals linked to the drug trade.
“This is about whistleblowers from your own security group linking you to criminal activities,” they said.
Composed of Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers Party-list), Sarah Elago (Gabriela Party-list), and Renee Co (Kabataan Party-list), the bloc claimed Duterte’s presidential bid is being used as a “shield against accountability,” portraying criticism as attacks on her political ambitions.
“This is a classic authoritarian playbook: Declare yourself a candidate, claim persecution and rally supporters to defend you not on the merits of the allegations, but on loyalty and victimhood,” they said.
The lawmakers added that Duterte is “trying to turn a legitimate constitutional process into a political circus where she is the martyr and her accusers are the villains.”
They stressed that the impeachment complaints involve serious allegations of corruption, money laundering, and betrayal of public trust that require investigation.
“Hindi ito tungkol sa 2028. Ito ay tungkol sa mga ginawa mo habang ikaw ay nakaupo bilang Vice President. This is about public funds you used without transparency. This is about criminals who allegedly financed your campaign while your father pretended to fight them,” the group said.
“Kung wala kang tinatago, Madam Vice President, harapin mo ang impeachment. Sagutin mo ang mga paratang. Ipakita mo ang resibo ng confidential funds. Huwag kang tumakbo sa 2028 para takasan ang accountability sa 2026,” they added.