As 2028 draws near, I would much rather see a guilt-free president—one who commands respect without baggage—than a leader hounded by unresolved questions of impropriety. A presidency clouded by lingering doubts, like a Damocles sword hanging over the nation’s head, will only paralyze governance. A besieged president, no matter how charismatic or popular, becomes vulnerable—hostaged by powerful interest groups, forced to negotiate from a position of weakness. And in this country, we know how those “deals” usually end: skewed in favor of big business, never the people.

This is why I am urging Vice President Sara Duterte to face the legal and ethical issues surrounding her with full transparency—before she contemplates a bid for the highest office. The truth must be confronted head-on, not sidestepped or deferred. Doing so will put these governance questions to rest and allow her, or any public official for that matter, to lead with moral authority.

Yes, both the Vice President and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, still enjoy considerable popularity. But let us not mistake popularity for political inevitability. The 2022 elections proved one thing: Filipinos are beginning to demand more than celebrity and spectacle. Voters are slowly but surely shifting their expectations. They want transparency. They want accountability. They want public servants—not performers.

The numbers paint a grim picture. Over 40 million Filipinos live below the poverty line. Over two million remain unemployed. Millions more are underemployed or scraping by in informal work. These are not abstract figures; these are lives defined by daily hardship. Every peso saved matters. And so, when rumors or reports surface about public funds being misused, the public’s patience is rightfully strained. Corruption—or the mere perception of it—adds fuel to the fire of distrust.

The Vice President has a rare opportunity: to lead not just by words or social media presence, but by action. To set an example that no one is above scrutiny—not even those with the most recognizable names in politics. If she emerges from this trial with her integrity intact, then she may very well become the kind of leader this country needs—unburdened, unafraid, and unblemished.

That kind of presidency could, finally, be one for the people.