'Bad taste in the mouth': Salceda doesn't like how his pal VP Duterte bared her 2028 Palace bid
At A Glance
- A former congressman who campaigned for Vice President Sara Duterte in 2022 says the latter's early declaration of her presidential ambition in the 2028 elections "leaves a bad taste in the mouth".
Former Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (MANILA BULLETIN, Facebook)
A former congressman who campaigned for Vice President Sara Duterte in 2022 says the latter's early declaration of her presidential ambition in the 2028 elections "leaves a bad taste in the mouth".
Joey Salceda, a former three-term Albay congressman and governor, also called his friend Vice President Duterte's move "ill-advised" given the circumstances.
“Hanggang June 2028 si Marcos pa rin ang Presidente. I once worked with her (Duterte), pero this time around, I think it is hindi OA (overacting) magsabi na it is an ill-advised move. I think it is a misguided gamble,” Salceda said on Saturday, Feb. 21 during the media forum held at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
(Marcos will still be President until June 2028. I once worked with her [Duterte], but this time around, I think it is not overacting to say that it is an ill‑advised move. I believe it is a misguided gamble.)
Giving weight to Salceda’s statements was the fact that he was an avid backer of then-Davao City mayor Duterte during the 2022 national elections.
“In 2022, I was promoting Sara for presidency. You can go back to your files,” he said. Duterte eventually chose to become Marcos' running mate. They are not on opposite sides of the political fence.
Salceda claimed that presidential bids are strongest when they arise from genuine public clamor, not early positioning.
“I think I would have wanted that there should be a clamor for her. Let the people proclaim you,” said the former House Committee on Appropriations chairman.
At any rate, Salceda described Duterte's move as premature and unnecessary.
The Vice President is currently grappling with at least four impeachment complaints at the House of Representatives; as well as the continued incarceration of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands.