FEBRUARY 19, 2026 — Vice President Sara Duterte says she’s gunning for the presidency in 2028. Malacañang’s reply? A curt, almost dismissive “Good luck.” Two words, delivered with a smile — but whether that smile was sincere or sarcastic, even Palace officials couldn’t say. And in the world of Philippine politics, that kind of brevity speaks volumes.

But the Palace didn’t stop at “good luck.” It went straight for the jugular, reminding Duterte that before she dreams of Malacañang, she’s got a long list of apologies to make. 

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro laid it out: extrajudicial killings under her father’s administration, alleged misuse of confidential funds, fake student vouchers worth ₱200 million, undelivered school materials, and even spoiled food handed out to students. 

“Mas dapat niyang inunang humingi ng tawad sa taumbayan lalong-lalo na sa mga biktima ng EJK,” Castro said. 

(She should have first apologized to the people, especially to the victims of extrajudicial killings.)

Now that’s a full-blown indictment. And it flips Duterte’s own narrative on its head. Remember, she recently expressed regret for helping Marcos win in 2022, almost as if she wanted to distance herself from the UniTeam alliance. But Castro wasn’t having it. 

“Huwag niya pong solohin ang credit,” she said. 

(She shouldn’t claim the credit all to herself.) 

After all, the people elected Marcos, not Sara Duterte, for president.

The Palace also painted her as an absentee VP. Castro quipped that Marcos didn’t know his running mate would be “puro bakasyon” (always on vacation), accusing her of failing to help the administration and instead spending her time tearing it down. 

The contrast was clear: Marcos as the “working president,” Duterte as the politician obsessed with her own ambitions.

And that’s the word Castro used — politician. Not statesman. 

“Isa siya na maituturing na politician — politician na ang iniisip ay ang susunod na eleksyon, ang iniisip ay iyong pansarili na interes, hindi ang taumbayan,” she said.

(She can be considered a politician — one who thinks only of the next election, of personal interest, not of the people.) 

That’s a brutal framing, especially for someone positioning herself as the next president.

The Palace didn’t stop there. On Duterte’s claim that the 2025 budget was “riddled with corruption,” Castro shot back that she should first explain the corruption allegations hounding her own offices — the OVP and DepEd — particularly the confidential funds controversy. 

“Kung wala naman siyang ginawa na mga maanomalya at labag sa Konstitusyon, hindi naman po siguro siya masasampahan ng mga impeachment complaints,” Castro said. 

(If she didn’t commit anomalies or unconstitutional acts, she wouldn’t be facing impeachment complaints.)

Even flood control projects became part of the shade. Castro cited 13,917 projects under Duterte’s father that “mukhang hindi naramdaman” (seemed unfelt), pointing to typhoons like Rolly, Ulysses, and Odette that still left Filipinos drowning in floods. She even noted flooding in Davao City during Duterte’s time as mayor. 

Translation? Don’t act like your family’s administration was spotless.

So what does this all mean for us? For students who got spoiled food, for families who lost loved ones to EJKs, for taxpayers watching confidential funds vanish — these aren’t just talking points. They’re lived realities. And if Duterte wants to run in 2028, she’ll have to face them head-on. No amount of “good luck” can erase that.

But is Malacañang genuinely pushing accountability, or is this just political theater? After all, corruption and governance failures aren’t exclusive to one camp. Filipinos have long been caught in the middle of politicians trading accusations while the same problems — poverty, flooding, education gaps — never go away.

The UniTeam that once promised unity is now unraveling in public. And the Palace’s message is clear: Sara Duterte may have her eyes on 2028, but the ghosts of the past are waiting.

So the question is, will we let another politician’s bid distract us from demanding real accountability?

(Image: YouTube)