Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte alleged that the impeachment trial against his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, was initiated to prevent her from running in the 2028 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, Duterte accused the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of pursuing the impeachment to advance its political interests and maintain its hold on power.

"Gusto nila na may impeachment para masunod yung gusto nila. It's not about really, you know, like the vice president defending herself but it's about putting her sa lugar kung saan nila gusto na nandyan siya. Kasi kaya nga nila, ini-incise yung impeachment na yan kasi they want to remain in power. Gusto nila sila,” Duterte said during an interview in the Hagues, Netherlands.

"They are preventing Vice President Inday Sara Duterte to run for the 2028 elections, ‘yan talaga ang main reason ng impeachment na yun," Duterte said.

He argued that the impeachment campaign began around three years ago, shortly after the relationship between Vice President Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reportedly deteriorated.

"Ako hindi ako nanonood kasi you know, nung simula pa lang, when did this impeachment campaign begin? It was, what, 3 years ago," Duterte said.

"Even nung simula pa lang ng termino ni Marcos yan, nung nagkalabuan na andyan na yung usapang impeachment against the vice president for what? The confidential funds? At ngayon dinadagdagan nila na kung ano-ano na lang pwedeng idagdag."

Duterte expressed hope that the vice president would be acquitted in the impeachment trial, saying he would rather not be placed in a position where he would have to run for president in the next national elections.

He described the impeachment as the country's "biggest issue" and maintained that the administration had spent the past three years working toward the impeachment of the vice president.

"In the first place, nandyan lang naman kami kasi binoto kami eh. As elected representatives, that will uphold the mismo konstitusyon na... Tingnan natin kasi destiny talaga ng tao yan kung anong mangyayari sa kanya. Pero yung masasabi ko lang talaga, ginawa nila yung impeachment na the entire campaign for three years talaga nilang pinagsikapan ng administration yan kasi gusto nila sila pa rin," Duterte said, adding that the outcome of the case would ultimately depend on "destiny."

Meanwhile, the Davao City mayor declined to comment on the three-day rally held by the Iglesia ni Cristo.