Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong can't help but think that Vice President Sara Duterte is already on "campaign mode" for the 2028 Palace race.

This, as Adiong commented on the rallies that the impeachment respondent has been leading in The Hague in the Netherlands.

“Una, I think nagra-rally lang siya ng support talaga eh (First of all, I think she's just rallying supporters). That's how we see it,” Adiong said, referring the latest “Free Duterte Now” gathering outside the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“I think that's how she rallies and keeps her support base. Kaya nga nakikita natin na itong ginagawa ng Bise Presidente ay nagiging kampanya na siya in a way para ma-determine at saka ma-maintain niya 'yung sinasabi niyang suporta sa kanyang mga nakukuhang mga grupo,” noted the House prosecution panel spokesperson.

(We see that what the Vice President is doing has become a campaign in a way, to determine and maintain the support she claims to have from certain groups.)

“Ang ating palagay ay she is now working towards her ambition to become the next president,” Adiong said.

(Our view is she is now working toward her ambition to become the next president.)

Duterte formally announced on Feb. 18 that she would seek the presidency in 2028 national elections.

Her appearance abroad coincided with the Senate impeachment court’s reception of testimony and documents involving the P612.5 million in confidential funds released to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd).

“Kaya parati natin sinasabi na mas maganda, halimbawa, na marinig din natin straight from the Vice President itong mga denial na ito. Kung anuman 'yung mga alegasyon pinipresenta ng House prosecution panel, paliwanag mula sa kanya,” Adiong noted.

(That is why we always say it would be better, for example, to hear these denials straight from the Vice President herself. Whatever allegations the House Prosecution Panel is presenting, we need explanations from her.)

Duterte faces charges involving confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, alleged threats and other acts that the House says compromises her fitness for public office.

“Pero ang naririnig natin at nakikita natin, ay umiiwas siya sa impeachment trial pero doon siya pupunta sa kanyang comfort zone,” Adiong pointed out.

(But what we hear and see is that she avoids the impeachment trial and instead goes to her comfort zone.)

The Netherlands was just one of the countries that the Vice President visited in a two-week, multi-nation trip.

Meanwhile, Adiong clarified that the characterization of Duterte’s Hague activities as campaigning was his own assessment rather than an official conclusion adopted by the entire prosecution panel.

He said the trial gives the public a forum where they can compare the Vice President’s political appeals with the testimony and documentary evidence presented under oath.

“Makikita naman ng taong bayan sa ating impeachment trial kung talagang worthy siya to be our next leader considering that there are a lot of charges," reckoned Adiong.

(The public will see in our impeachment trial, whether or not she is truly worthy to be our next leader, considering that there are a lot of charges.)

The respondent's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, is being held and tried by the ICC at The Hague for crimes against humanity in connection with the latter's bloody war on illegal drugs.