The now-defunct Marcos-Sara Duterte Alliance (MASADA) welcomed on Sunday the subtle hint from Vice President Sara Duterte about a possible bid for the 2028 presidential elections — a political move the group had been advocating even before the 2022 elections.
MASADA co-founder Benito Ranque reacted to Vice President Duterte’s brief yet intriguing statement during a thanksgiving event in Hong Kong, where she playfully teased the audience about her future political plans.
“I am thankful that from 2016 until 2025, you are still here… And in the next election in 2028 — just kidding,” she said in Filipino, sparking immediate speculation.
Ranque noted that MASADA was originally called the Mayor Sara Duterte Alliance, which launched the "Run Sara Run" campaign, urging her to run for president before the 2022 elections.
He recalled that before the 2022 elections, the group organized a caravan from Davao City to Pasay City to convince then-Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to run for president. However, she later decided to run as vice president alongside former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (BBM).
According to Ranque, Marcos assured Duterte during a November 2021 meeting in Cebu City that the Marcos-Duterte alliance would continue to build on the economic gains of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Ranque, who attended the "Sara-Bong" meeting in Cebu, recalled that BBM accepted delicacies from Sara and reaffirmed the unity between the Solid North and Solid South, a key factor in their 2022 electoral victory.
“Sara had already filed her reelection for Davao City mayor, but she was later convinced that the Marcos-Duterte alliance would unify the country. That’s when the so-called Uniteam was born,” Ranque explained.
As a result, the alliance was renamed Marcos-Sara Duterte (MASADA) when Sara officially became Marcos’ running mate.
Despite MASADA’s dissolution after the 2022 elections, the group has now reorganized — this time with the sole mission of urging VP Sara Duterte to run for president in 2028.
Ranque and other organizers believe that Duterte could be "the Golda Meir of the Philippines", citing her Jewish ancestry and strong leadership qualities.
“No more Marcos alliance. MASADA is back in action in its original form to launch a nationwide movement seeking support for Inday Sara to run in 2028. We foresee the rise of Inday Sara as the ‘Golda Meir’ of the Philippines if she becomes the next president,” Ranque declared.
MASADA draws inspiration from the ancient Jewish fortress of Masada, where Jewish defenders chose mass suicide over surrender to the Roman Empire.
Ranque noted that Sara Duterte’s Jewish lineage traces back to her grandfather, the father of her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman. He was a German Jew who obtained a visa to the Philippines along with 1,300 European Jews before World War II.
“With her Jewish ancestry and strong-willed governance in Davao City, Inday Sara could become the ‘Golda Meir of the Philippines’,” he added.
Golda Meir, an Israeli politician, was one of the founders of the Israeli state and later became its 4th Prime Minister. She was famously known as the "Iron Lady of Israel" during her tenure.
If Duterte decides to run, MASADA plans to adopt what they call an "Israeli strategy" in rallying nationwide support for her candidacy.
“MASADA, named after the legendary Jewish fortress, is committed to pushing for Inday Sara’s presidency in 2028,” Ranque affirmed.
With MASADA’s resurgence, the 2028 elections are shaping up to be another crucial moment in Philippine politics. Will VP Sara Duterte take up the challenge? Only time will tell.