DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte clarified on Tuesday, October 6, that her younger brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, has not discussed any plans with their family regarding a potential presidential run in the 2028 elections.
Speaking to reporters during a press briefing at the Office of the Vice President Southern Mindanao Satellite Office in Lanang, Davao City, Duterte addressed questions about whether she might endorse her brother for national office—a bid she had previously indicated she intends to pursue herself.
“Hindi naman napag-usapan ni Mayor Sebastian Duterte ang pagtakbo niya bilang Pangulo,” Duterte stated.
While dismissing any formal discussions involving Baste, the Vice President noted that their mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, had previously suggested a scenario where Sara returns to local politics while her brother steps into the national arena.
“Pero sa tingin ko nabanggit ko na ito dati, publicly, nabanggit ko siguro sa interview o sa speech ko na nagsabi talaga ang nanay ko na pinapauwi niya sa ako ng Davao at si Baste na lang daw ang patakbuhin sa national elections,” she recalled.
Duterte emphasized that this casual remark from their mother remains the sole instance the topic was ever brought up within the family.
“Sa pamilya namin, yun lang yung napag-usapan or sinabi ng nanay ko. Sinabi ng nanay ko na umuwi ka dito sa Davao at sinabi niya na bahala na si Baste diyan sa national,” she added.
The Duterte siblings—including Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte—have long held key political posts locally and nationally. Sara served as mayor of Davao City prior to assuming the vice presidency, while Paolo represents the city’s first district in Congress and Baste serves as its current mayor.
The Vice President’s remarks follow Baste Duterte’s recent appearance before the Senate impeachment tribunal on September 29, where he served as a witness regarding Davao City government contracts involving GenCorp Industries Inc.—a company listed in Sara Duterte’s 2024 and 2025 Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
After being declared a hostile witness by the tribunal, Baste testified that he possessed no personal knowledge of the firm and maintained that all municipal transactions with the company were aboveboard.