Malacañang brushed aside recent remarks by Vice President Sara Duterte about the 2028 elections, calling them unfounded and stressing that the administration remains focused on governance rather than future political contests.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Vice President’s statement expressing hope for an “honest, orderly, and peaceful” election in 2028 should not be given undue weight, describing it as mere speculation without basis.
Castro added that Duterte, as a lawyer, may need to revisit the Constitution to better contextualize her remarks.
“Ang mga ganitong sagot mula kay Bise Presidente ay alam natin intriga lamang, mga kuwentong walang basehan at sana ma-review niya ulit, bilang abogado kung ano ba ang nilalaman ng Konstitusyon para masagot na niya rin ang sarili niyang salita,” Castro said.
The Palace official made the statement following Duterte’s comments during an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, where she said she could only hope that the 2028 presidential elections would be conducted fairly and peacefully.
Castro also emphasized that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains focused on addressing current national concerns, including mitigating the effects of the ongoing Middle East crisis, rather than engaging in early discussions about the next election cycle.
She noted that the President continues to carry out his duties, citing his participation in key meetings such as the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) committee and the Economy and Development Council, as well as his recent meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
Duterte has earlier declared her intention to run for president in 2028, but the Palace maintained that the administration’s priority remains governance and addressing pressing national issues.