Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday, Jan. 28, joined President Marcos’ “Bagong Pilipinas” kickoff rally, but also expressed her support for the prayer rally her father is expected to attend in Davao City to oppose the ongoing People’s Initiative (PI) to amend the Constitution.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte delivers a message during the 'Bagong Pilipinas' grand rally in Manila on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (RTVM screenshot)

In a statement shortly before the start of both programs, the country’s second highest official revealed her intentions to support both rallies.

“Mga kababayan, dadalo po ako sa Bagong Pilipinas Kickoff Rally sa Quirino Grandstand sa Manila (My fellow countrymen, I will attend the Bagong Pilipinas kickoff rally in Quirino Grandstand in Manila),” she said, adding that the Department of Education (DepEd) is one with the Marcos administration’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda that aims to bring the country to progress.

The official joined the DepEd officials and public school teachers at 3:30 p.m. at the grandstand, according to the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

During the event, Duterte put the spotlight on DepEd personnel and shared how the agency contributes to the Marcos administration’s rallying call of “Bagong Pilipinas.”

“Ang Department of Education po ay kaisa ng lahat ng mga ahensya sa gobyerno tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas (The Department of Education is one with all government agencies toward Bagong Pilipinas),” she said in a brief message on stage.

“Kami po ay huhulma ng mga kabataan at mag-aaral na matatag (We will mold the youth and students to become resilient),” she added, using the same term as DepEd’s MATATAG agenda, which seeks to transform the country’s educational system under the “Bagong Pilipinas” slogan.

But Duterte, who is the concurrent Education secretary, also said she was one with the different sectors attending the prayer rally in her hometown of Davao City.

“Kasama rin ako sa prayer rally ng iba’t ibang sektor sa Davao City laban sa isinusulong na Charter change (I will also join the prayer rally of different sectors in Davao City against the proposed charter change),” she stated.

Her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, is expected to attend the prayer rally against a supposed PI drive gathering signatures to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which was born after former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and his family were thrown from power.

The PI initiative is supposedly being spearheaded by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Marcos’ cousin.

Duterte, in her statement, maintained her opposition to changing the Constitution.

“Mahalagang makita at maintindihan natin ang panganib na nakaamba sa atin oras na tuluyan nating isinuko ang ating Saligang Batas sa kamay ng mga taong may personal at politikal na interes (It is important to see and understand the dangers that we face once we allow our Constitution to be in the hands of those with personal and political interests),” she said.

Critics warn that changing the Constitution could pave the way for Marcos to get another six-year term, which is currently prohibited. This would potentially put him on a collision course with the younger Duterte, who many believe would seek the presidency in 2028.

“Manindigan tayo laban sa pagbabago sa ating Saligang Batas sa pamamagitan ng ‘Pera kapalit ng pirma para sa People’s Initiative’ (Let us stand against the amending of our Constitution through ‘money in exchange of signature for People’s Initiative'),” Duterte said.