Vice President Sara Duterte said that there’ll be a time for her to leave politics but she has to answer first to the Filipino people who placed their trust on her.
(From right) Vice President Sara Duterte and former president Rodrigo Duterte (Malacañang photo)
Speaking to reporters during a press briefing in Bacolod City on Monday, Nov. 11, the official responded to queries about a suggestion from former president Rodrigo Duterte for her to leave politics.
“Darating din tayo duon na hindi na ako sasali sa politics. Ako man gusto ko rin (We will get to the time I won’t join politics anymore. I want it, too),” she said.
“Ang problema ko (My problem) is that I need to answer to 32.2 million Filipinos who gave confidence and trust for me to become the vice president of everyone, hindi lang ng 32.2 million (not only to 32.2 million),” Duterte explained.
Last week, the former president called on his daughter to leave politics and just live a quiet life. This was amid what they call a political attack launched against the Vice President by administration allies after she had a falling out with the Marcos-Romualdez clan.
But the Vice President shared it was actually her father who persuaded her to enter politics.
“Pagkatapos niya akong sinabi na tumakbo ako nang tumakbo, tumakbo akong mayor, tumakbo akong vice mayor, [tapos] sabihan niya ako no’n (After he told me to run, I run as mayor, as vice mayor, then now he’s telling me that),” she said.
While she seemed to be open to the idea of someday leaving politics, Duterte stressed that she leaves it up to God.
“But buhay kasi natin, hindi natin alam kung ano mangyayari bukas (But we don’t know what will happen in our life next). We can only plan but it’s always God’s purpose that shall prevail. So, plano lang tayo nang plano pero magtiwala rin tayo sa Diyos (we can plan but we have have to trust God),” she added.
The Vice President has consistently topped presidential preferential surveys before she decided to become President Marcos’ running mate during the 2022 elections.
But although her falling out with the Marcoses decreased her ratings, she still topped a recent survey that ranked her as the top presidential contender in the run-up to the 2028 polls.