Sara Duterte’s nephew to people: Support her for president in 2028
Rodrigo ‘Rigo’ Duterte (L) and Vice President Sara Duterte. | PHOTOS: Official Facebook pages of Rigo Atong Amigo and Inday Sara Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II, the son of Davao 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, has called on Davao City residents to stand behind her aunt, Vice President Sara Duterte.
He said this way, she can be the country’s president by 2028.
Rigo Duterte made this statement on Friday as he addressed recent issues hounding their family.
According to him, the people of Davao must also rally behind his grandfather, his namesake, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“We must unite for my grandfather, Mayor Rody Duterte, to return as mayor. We also stand together for Vice President Sara Duterte to become the next president of the Philippines in 2028,” Duterte II said.
Vice President Duterte has not given a final decision on her plans for the 2028 national elections, but last February 7, she said she is seriously mulling a presidential bid.
She made the pronouncement two days after the House of Representatives impeached her.
READ: Impeached VP Duterte still ‘seriously considering’ running in 2028 polls
On March 15, after ex-president Duterte was taken into custody by the ICC, Vice President Duterte was asked if she still considers seeking the highest office in the country.
In response, Duterte wondered if the Philippines would still exist by 2028.
READ: VP Duterte on presidential bid: ‘Do we still have a country by 2028?’
The political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), meanwhile, called on the public to elect Vice President Duterte’s allies as senators.
It said this must be done because the winners in the 2025 polls would sit as senator-judges during her impeachment trial.
The party is headed by former President Duterte.
Aside from this call for support for his aunt, Rigo Duterte also clarified that his father, Rep. Pulong Duterte, has not left his duties even if the House member has been traveling to different countries to attend to family concerns.
“My father, Congressman Pulong, had to be there. His father, who is my grandfather, was brought to jail without an arrest warrant. Of course, as a son, he had to go,” Rigo explained in the local dialect.
“People are accusing that the first district office has been closed… But look at what my father has done —conducting medical missions, aiding those in need, [and] responding to fire victims. Are these not real?” he asked.
This statement from Duterte II came after the House of Representatives approved his father’s request for a travel authority to 16 countries:
- People’s Republic of China/ Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Republic of Korea
- Japan
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- United States of America
- Australia
- United Kingdom of Great Britain/ Northern Ireland
- Netherlands
- Germany
- France
- Belgium
- Italy
- Singapore
READ: Paolo Duterte gets House OK to travel to multiple countries
This is the second travel authority issued by the House leadership to Rep. Duterte.
On March 11, after returning from Hong Kong, ex-President Duterte was stopped from leaving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 by local authorities.
The law enforcers assisted the International Criminal Police Organization in enforcing an ICC arrest order.
The warrant was issued due to charges of crimes against humanity filed against the former leader for his role in the bloody war against illegal drugs.
READ: Rodrigo Duterte now under police custody
After questioning the arrest, the former chief executive eventually boarded a chartered plane from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
The aircraft left Manila for the Netherlands a few minutes after 11:00 p.m. on March 11.
It landed in The Hague in the early morning of March 13, Manila time.
