Vice President Sara Duterte has addressed growing speculation about her potential presidential run in 2028, saying it is too early to make a decision but stressing that she would only enter the race if she was certain of victory.

Speaking before supporters and media in The Hague on 24 March, Duterte revealed that she was advised to make a decision by late 2026.

“The advice given to me before was to decide by the fourth quarter of 2026,” she said. “By that time, I should already know whether I will run or not.”

Duterte, who remains a strong political figure despite tensions with the Marcos administration, emphasized that she would not run just for the sake of candidacy.

“You need to be sure that when you run, you will win,” she said. “It’s difficult to give people hope and then fail.”

'To the dumpster'

The vice president’s remarks came after she previously warned that “we may not have a country by 2028,” citing worsening economic struggles and public disillusionment with governance.

“We are already deep in poverty. At this point, we should be working our way up, but it seems we’re heading toward the dumpster,” she explained. “Somehow, people don’t see hope because they don’t see it in government either.”

Duterte remains cautious about making definitive political plans, hinting that her decision will largely depend on the political and economic landscape in the coming years.

On confidential funds

When asked about the scrutiny over the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds, Duterte dismissed allegations of irregularities and pointed to the legal processes already in motion. “They can say what they want to say,” she remarked. “Congressman Alvarez has already filed his petition questioning the budget, and I have my own arguments to present.”

Duterte remains in The Hague, standing by her father, detained former President Rodrigo Duterte, as his legal team takes shape. While the Palace has urged her to return to the Philippines to fulfill her duties, she insists that she is balancing both responsibilities.