Vice President Sara Duterte Prefers Freedom Over Party
Vice President Sara Duterte openly declared she would rather be “single and ready to mingle in politics” than be bound by a political party, including her father’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). This statement highlights her reluctance to join a political faction despite ongoing invitations.
With Senator Robin Padilla stepping down as PDP-Laban president, Duterte’s brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, now assumes the role. However, Sara Duterte remains hesitant to join the once-dominant party, having learned tough lessons from past experiences.
Lessons Learned from Political Alliances
She recalled multiple invitations to join PDP-Laban, including one from her father after she left the Marcos administration’s Cabinet last year. “Pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa akong decision, ma’am. Mainly because nakita niyo naman ‘yung nangyari sa akin, ma’am, di ba ‘no? Parang ayaw ko nang kausap ‘yung mga politiko— lalong-lalo na kapag magkakasama kami sa isang grupo,” Duterte told reporters during a press conference in Davao City on June 16.
Although she didn’t explicitly mention her once-strong alliance with President Marcos, her relationship with the Marcos administration soured and eventually collapsed within two years following their 2022 election victory.
Choosing Independence in Politics
“So wala naman, I have nothing against everyone. In general lang, sa akin, mas gusto ko yung ganito ako. ‘Yung sinasabi ko lagi na, ‘I’m single and ready to mingle,’ in terms of politics, kaysa ‘yung nakatali ka sa loob ng isang grupo,” she added.
In 2022, Duterte ran under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), aligned with the UniTeam coalition alongside President Marcos. This party is also the home of Speaker Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin and her political rival. She resigned from Lakas-CMD in May 2023 due to conflicts involving Romualdez and her mentor, former President Gloria Arroyo.
Endorsing Candidates Beyond Party Lines
Although she is currently unaffiliated with any political party, Vice President Duterte has endorsed several candidates in the 2025 elections. She supported former President Rodrigo Duterte’s PDP-Laban senatorial slate, known as “DuterTen,” and also backed Senator Imee Marcos and Senator-elect Camille Villar, who are outside her father’s camp.
Her political journey reflects a preference for autonomy over party loyalty, emphasizing personal principles and strategic alliances instead of strict party membership.
For more news and updates on Vice President Sara Duterte, visit Filipinokami.com.