Vice President Sara Duterte's early declaration of her presidential candidacy in the 2028 elections has given "a sense of certainty and direction" to Filipinos.

Thus, said former Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera, as she reflected on the Vice President’s big announcement.

"I welcome and support the Vice President’s announcement of her intention to run in the 2028 presidential elections," Herrera said on Sunday, Feb. 22.

"For many months, the Filipino people have lived with speculation about the country’s future leadership. By making her plans clear, Vice President Sara Duterte has provided the public a sense of certainty and direction — something our people value in these uncertain times," she said.

Herrera, a former House deputy speaker, said Duterte’s decision to vie for the Palace seat two years from now "also reflects an openness to the sentiments of many Filipinos who see in her a potential leader for the nation".

"Regardless of political affiliations, what matters most is that our citizens are given the opportunity to openly consider their choices and participate meaningfully in the democratic process," noted the former long-time party-list lawmaker.

"I appreciate the Vice President for placing clarity before politics, and I trust that in the coming years, the national conversation will remain focused on programs, solutions, and the welfare of the Filipino people," Herrera further said.

Duterte grabbed headlines last Feb. 18 by making a rather early declaration of her plan to run for president in the 2028. She did so while grappling with multiple impeachment complaints filed 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.