Malacañang on Friday downplayed speculation that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could back former Vice President Leni Robredo in the 2028 presidential polls even as it described Vice President Sara Duterte’s early declaration as “untimely” and “irrelevant,.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said talk of a possible Marcos endorsement of Robredo was “a suggestion that will be respected, but it is not timely.”
She added that Duterte’s announcement should not be viewed as a trigger for political realignments.
“That perspective is not the Palace’s perspective. The Vice President’s declaration that she will run for president is irrelevant because that is not what the President considers important right now. There is no need to divide the Filipino people,” Castro said.
Castro stressed that Mr. Marcos remains focused on governance rather than electoral politics, calling on leaders and public servants to avoid taking sides. She said the administration’s priorities are economic recovery, flood control and job generation.
In a separate development, Sen. Robin Padilla said a “hierarchy” is being followed in selecting Duterte’s potential running mate for 2028.
He said Sen. Imee Marcos, sister of the President, fits the role, but added he would run for vice president if asked by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
If Senator Marcos is chosen as Duterte’s running mate, Padilla said he would instead serve as campaign manager.
Mr. Marcos and Robredo are scheduled to meet Saturday in Naga City, where Robredo serves as mayor. The President is set to inspect anti-flood control operations along Sagop Creek as part of the administration’s mitigation efforts.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives said Duterte’s presidential plans would not affect impeachment proceedings against her.
Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, chair of the House committee on justice, said the panel would apply the same rules and parameters used in handling impeachment complaints against Mr. Marcos when tackling the four complaints filed against the Vice President.
Luistro said the committee would deliberate on each complaint ground by ground to determine sufficiency in substance, stressing that impeachment is a constitutional duty, not a political exercise.
“Regardless of the Vice President’s pronouncement about her intention to run, the deliberations of the justice committee should not be affected,” she said.
As of Feb. 20, four impeachment complaints have been filed against Duterte, but these have yet to be referred to the justice committee.
Duterte earlier signaled her intention to seek the presidency in 2028, apologizing for teaming up with Mr. Marcos in the 2022 elections and criticizing what she described as governance failures, including corruption and rising living costs.
Castro also brushed aside political scientist Antonio Contreras’ view that a Robredo candidacy backed by Mr. Marcos could defeat Duterte if elections were held today, saying it was merely an opinion.
But the Palace spokesperson appeared to take a swipe at the Vice President in contrasting “action versus vacation” and “working versus not working.”
Duterte has faced criticism from Malacañang over her personal trips abroad, including visits to overseas Filipino workers and to her father, the former President who is facing crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The Office of the Vice President has maintained that her trips complied with Philippine laws and regulations, and Duterte has denied being aligned with any foreign power.
