“Accountability first. Justice first. The truth first. Then, and only then, can we talk about 2028.”

This was the statement issued as the Makabayan bloc hit Vice President Sara Duterte's announcement that she will run for president in 2028, calling it a cynical and desperate attempt to control the narrative, portray herself as a victim of political persecution, and shield herself from accountability for serious allegations of corruption, misuse of confidential funds, and betrayal of public trust.

The group said Vice President Duterte's premature declaration—more than two years before the 2028 elections—is not about serving the Filipino people. It added that 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.

“Huwag nyang 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. This is about allegations that you received funding from POGO operators and drug dealers for your campaign. This is about whistleblowers from your own security group linking you to criminal activities.”

The Makabayan bloc, composed of ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Atty. Renee Louise Co, said, “By announcing her presidential bid now, Vice President Duterte is attempting to weaponize her candidacy as a shield against accountability. She wants Filipinos to believe that any investigation into her conduct is simply an attack by political enemies trying to prevent her from becoming president.”

The group said it 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. Duterte is trying to turn a legitimate constitutional process into a political circus where she is the martyr and her accusers are the villains.

“We would not be in this situation in the first place if Pres. Marcos did not block the impeachment process last year. But the Filipino people are not fools. The impeachment complaint is based on serious, documented allegations supported by whistleblower testimony, official documents, and the Vice President's own contradictory and evasive statements regarding her use of confidential funds.”

Makabayan further said the complaint against the Vice President details the misuse of hundreds of millions of pesos with no clear accounting, no receipts, and no transparency. It details allegations that her campaign was funded by POGO operators and drug syndicates—the very criminals her father's administration claimed to be fighting. It details allegations that military officers in her security group were used as bagmen to transport millions in cash to parking lots, hotels, and entertainment establishments.

It said, “These are not political accusations. These are allegations of corruption, money laundering, and betrayal of public trust that demand investigation and accountability through impeachment.”

“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 reiterated that Vice President Duterte's announcement is a calculated move to energize her base, consolidate political support, and pressure Congress to drop or weaken the impeachment proceedings for fear of being labeled politically motivated.

It said Duterte is trying to create a narrative in which anyone supporting her impeachment is automatically an enemy of her presidential ambitions, acting out of political malice rather than constitutional duty.

“This is an insult to the constitutional process and to the Filipino people's right to demand accountability. Impeachment is not a political tool—it is a constitutional mechanism to remove officials who have committed culpable violations of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, bribery, graft and corruption, or other high crimes. The fact that Vice President Duterte is a potential presidential candidate in 2028 does not immunize her from accountability for her actions as Vice President in 2026.”

The group challenged, “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.”

With this, the Makabayan bloc warned the Filipino people against falling for what it described as manipulation. It said Vice President Duterte is not a victim—she is an impeachable official facing serious allegations of corruption and abuse of power. She is not being persecuted—she is being held accountable through the constitutional process that exists precisely for situations like this.

The bloc called on House leadership to gather the one-third vote needed for the fast-track impeachment mode. It said the impeachment must not be influenced by Vice President Duterte's political ambitions or her attempts to frame the proceedings as political persecution. It must focus on the evidence and on whether the Vice President committed impeachable offenses.

“Ang tanong ay simple: Guilty ba o innocent? May ebidensya ba o wala? Ginamit ba nang tama ang confidential funds o hindi? Tumanggap ba siya ng pondo mula sa mga kriminal o hindi? Yan ang dapat sagutin—hindi kung sino ang tatakbo sa 2028,” the three Makabayan solons ask.

They further claimed that the impeachment is not about stopping her from running for president in 2028—it is about holding her accountable for what she did as Vice President. If found guilty, she should be removed and disqualified from holding public office. If found not guilty, she is free to run for any office.

But she does not get to use her presidential ambitions as a shield against accountability. She does not get to claim that scrutiny of her conduct is political persecution simply because she wants to be president. She does not get to escape justice by wrapping herself in the flag of a future candidacy.

The Makabayan bloc said it will not be intimidated or distracted by Vice President Duterte's political maneuvering and will continue to demand accountability, transparency, and justice. It added that it will continue to support the impeachment process as a constitutional mechanism to hold corrupt officials accountable.

“Madam Vice President. Humarap ka. Sagutin mo ang mga paratang. Kung wala kang kasalanan, wala kang dapat ikatakot. Pero kung may tinatago ka, walang 2028 na makakaligtas sa iyo mula sa accountability.The Makabayan bloc stands with the Filipino people in demanding that Vice President Sara Duterte be held accountable, that the impeachment trial proceed with integrity and fairness, and that no public official—no matter how powerful or politically ambitious—be allowed to escape justice by hiding behind a future candidacy,” the minority solons said.