The Makabayan bloc on Wednesday slammed Vice President Sara Duterte’s “premature” announcement about running for president in the 2028 elections, arguing that doing so was a “desperate attempt to shield herself from accountability” in connection with the millions in allegedly misused confidential funds, among other issues.

“Vice President Duterte's premature declaration—more than two years before the 2028 elections—is not about serving the Filipino people. It is about framing the impeachment proceedings as purely political harassment rather than what they truly are: a constitutional process to hold an impeachable official accountable for grave offenses,” they declared.

They asserted that the impeachment complaints, which would now appear merely as attempts to keep Duterte from running for president, is not about politics but accountability for the confidential funds she has yet to account for, for the allegations that she received funding from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and drug dealers for her campaign, and her reported links to criminal activities put forth by her own security group.

“The complaint details the misuse of hundreds of millions of pesos with no clear accounting, no receipts, and no transparency. It details allegations that her campaign was funded by POGO operators and drug syndicates—the very criminals her father's administration claimed to be fighting. It details allegations that military officers in her security group were used as bagmen to transport millions in cash to parking lots, hotels, and entertainment establishments,” they wrote in a statement.

The bloc claimed that this was Duterte’s attempt to turn a legitimate constitutional process into a “political circus.” They called this an “insult” to both the constitutional process and the Filipino people’s right to accountability and dared Duterte to face the impeachment proceedings and answer the allegations against her.

The House leadership was called upon to gather the one-third vote to fast-track the impeachment process.

“Accountability first. Justice first. The truth first. Then, and only then, can we talk about 2028,” they concluded.

Earlier on the same day, Duterte announced during a press conference that she will be running for president in the 2028 elections.

“Mga kababayan, ibalik natin ang tapang at malasakit para sa Diyos, sa bayan, at para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Ako si Sara Duterte. Tatakbo bilang pangulo ng Pilipinas,” she declared.