Vice President Sara Duterte said Filipinos can only pray that the 2028 presidential elections will push through and be conducted in an honest, orderly, and peaceful manner.

Speaking to supporters in The Hague, Duterte made the remark when asked about her readiness to seek the presidency.

She described herself as a “presumptive candidate,” noting that she has already declared her intention to run in the next national elections.

“Yes, I’m already a presumptive candidate because I declared my intention to run for the next presidential elections,” Duterte said.

“We can only pray that there will be a presidential election in 2028 and that it will be honest, orderly, and peaceful,” she noted.

The Vice President also expressed gratitude for continued public support for her and her family, even as she acknowledged that some of her political allies have distanced themselves.

“Sa totoo lang, iniwan na siguro ako lahat ng mga kaibigan ko na politiko,” she said.

Duterte added that she remains unfazed amid mounting political pressure, saying she is “very well and okay” despite recent developments involving impeachment proceedings.

“Kung ordinary individuals lang naman yan, like ordinary Filipinos, pabayaan na natin yan... Kasi 'yan naman 'yung opinion nila, yan naman yung damdamin nila. Hindi mo naman mababago ang nararamdaman ng isang tao,” she said.

However, she noted that remarks from members of Congress or the Senate carry greater weight and warrant closer attention.

“But it is different siguro kapag congressman na yung nagsasabi or senator na yung nagsasabi. Kasi magtatanong ka, bakit sobrang sigurado ka na tapos na ito?” she added.

Her comments come after the House Committee on Justice unanimously approved its report and articles of impeachment against the Vice President on May 4.

Duterte is currently in the Netherlands, where her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is facing legal proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over allegations tied to his administration’s war on drugs.