Sara Duterte accuses Marcos allies of undermining 2028 election prospects

Vice President Sara Duterte faced a budget inquiry this week held by the House of Representatives dominated by allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and accused them of sabotaging her chances for the 2028 polls. 

Despite leading in popularity surveys before the 2022 presidential election, Duterte successfully opted to run as Marcos’ running mate as vice president. In the Philippines, the top two offices are elected separately.

But their political alliance has since crumbled, with Marcos favoring policies that differ from his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte – Sara’s father.

Refusing to take the oath on Wednesday before lawmakers reviewing her office’s budget request for next year, Duterte alleged a “well-funded and coordinated political attack” against her by Marcos’s allies, without offering proof.

She defended her office when questioned about the alleged misuse of finances in  the previous year, saying it was evident the lawmakers’ message to the public was “do not vote for Sara in 2028.”

“It is clear to me that this inquiry is not about misused funds, accountability or governance, instead it is only aimed at discrediting my name and my office, to prevent future political contests,” she said. 

The vice president previously said she would finalize and announce her political plans for the 2028 elections before the end of this year.

The Office of the Vice President sought a budget of over 2 billion pesos (U.S. $36.61 million) for next year, but a House panel proposed cutting it by over 60% to 733 million pesos ($13.19 million).

Duterte has said she would not defend her office’s spending before lawmakers and that it could operate even without an allocated budget.

During the review proceedings, Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano slammed Duterte’s “unwillingness” to respond to several lawmakers’ questions about her office’s plans for next year.

“Her claim of leaving it to the House to do what it thinks is right is just a smokescreen, a cover, because she does not want to provide proof for the numbers she stated,” he said. 

House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Jefferson Khonghun was more succinct.

“Refusing to testify under oath sends a signal that there is something to avoid,” Khonghun said.

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‘Never again’

In June, Duterte resigned from Marcos’s cabinet as education minister, signifying a collapse of the once-strong alliance between the country’s two leading political families.

A rift began brewing late last year, when Duterte’s father, the former president, exchanged bitter criticisms with Marcos through the local press. 

Analysts said the elder Duterte apparently grew wary that Marcos, his successor, would hand him over to the International Criminal Court, which is investigating alleged human rights abuses in the drug war under his administration.

About 8,000 suspected dealers and addicts had been killed during the anti-narcotics campaign of the Duterte administration, the government said. But rights activists claimed the number could be much higher.

The factions also are at odds over the direction of Philippine relations with China, with Marcos taking a much firmer stance than his predecessor against Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea.

Asked by reporters during a break in the proceedings whether she would again team up with the Marcos family, the vice president said: “Never again.”

Principle of accountability

A political analyst said the vice president’s actions reflect her disregard for political institutions.

“No one is perfect in government regardless of elective or even appointed positions. But as an institution, it commands respect,” said Edmund Tayao, president and chief executive officer of the think-tank Political Economic Elemental Researchers and Strategists.

“Our constitution is rather clear: The Philippines is a democratic and republican state governed by the rule of law,” he told BenarNews. “Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.” 

Tayao said this provision is as fundamental as it is far-reaching.

“Individually, any political leader in any and every administration will have his or her indiscretions,” he said, adding that Duterte was answerable on the principle of accountability.

Congress is often regarded as having the government’s power of the purse, mandated with constitutional authority to scrutinize “all appropriation, revenue or tariff bills, bills authorizing increase of the public debt, bills of local application, and private bills.”

Duterte should set aside her political biases if she genuinely cares about her staff and the programs of her office, said political analyst Ela Atienza. “She needs to consider their needs. It shouldn’t always be about her or her ambitions.” 

“While she may hate politicians in the House, the public who are the voters and taxpayers deserve answers.”