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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara ready for presidential succession

VP Sara ready for presidential succession

Published Nov 25, 2025 03:52 pm
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)
Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed her readiness to be the president in case President Marcos steps down from power, stressing that her Constitutional mandate is to take over Malacañan as the “first in line in succession.”
“Of course, there is no question about my readiness. I presented myself to you when I was a candidate for Vice President with the understanding that I am the first in line in succession,” she said in a media interview in Davao City on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
“Wala nang tanong doon kung ano ang gagawin ko. Yun ang mandate sa akin ng Constitution. At alam ko yun noong ako ay tumakbo at binoto ninyo ako as Vice President (There is no question to what I will do. That’s my Constitutional mandate. And I know that when I run and you voted for me as vice president) knowing that I am first in line,” she added.
These questions came amid growing public frustration against the flood control corruption that has gripped the nation since August
With two major rallies—and another one scheduled this Nov. 30–drawing in hundreds of thousands of Filipinos to the streets to demand for accountability, reports of a possible military coup have started threatening President Marcos’ administration.
Impeachable offense
During the same interview, Duterte alleged that the President—her tandem during the 2022 national elections—is also accountable for the multi-billion-peso infrastructure scandal.
“So, his signature on the General Appropriations Act is the best evidence against him. Accountable siya kasi (because) he allowed the insertions so that is a cupable violation of the Constitution,” she said, adding that Marcos has done a lot of impeachable offenses.
“Refusal to take a drug test, that is betrayal of public trust. Allowing the ICC (International Criminal Court) to enter the Republic of the Philippines is culpable violation of the Constitution. That is against our national sovereignty,” she stressed.
The Vice President herself was impeached by the House of Representatives in February but this was overturned by the Supreme Court, with the Articles of Impeachment being archived in the Senate thereafter pending a Motion for Reconsideration lodged before the high court.
Asked about the possibility of filing an impeachment complaint against Marcos, Duterte pointed out that doing so is useless because the House—filled with allies of the President—will not move on the complaint.
She also denied that certain groups have reached out to her about filing an impeachment complaint.
Marcos, former speaker Martin Romualdez, and presidential son Rep. Sandro Marcos were implicated by resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co in the flood control mess.
Co has been in hiding since July, and refused to go back home despite a standing warrant of arrest.
In the height of the collapse of the once UniTeam tandem, Duterte had once lashed out at Co and Romualdez, saying that they control the nation’s coffers.

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VP Sara Duterte President Marcos presidential succession flood control scandal
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