As the 2028 elections draw closer, Vice President Sara Duterte remains a prominent contender. Her defenders are quick to paint every investigation or public scrutiny as mere “political persecution”—a supposed campaign to derail her rise, all because of her continuing popularity. But let’s be clear: “popular support” is not a shield against accountability. Not anymore.

Today’s Filipino voters are no longer swayed by overused political excuses. The claim that Sara Duterte is being unfairly targeted simply because she is strong in the polls is both lazy and dangerous. It completely disregards the serious issues at hand—allegations that go beyond politics and strike at the heart of public trust.

Let’s lay them out:

• Did Sara Duterte truly sign those questionable accountability reports submitted to the Commission on Audit, which flagged red flags in the use of confidential and intelligence funds?
• What is the truth behind her and her father’s alleged ₱2 billion joint bank accounts—public funds that remain unaccounted for to this day?
• What about her alleged threats to assassinate the sitting President, the First Lady, and the Speaker of the House—a shocking claim that would be career-ending in any functioning democracy?
• And let’s not forget the bigger picture: her complicity in the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war, which led to thousands of deaths and her father’s current incarceration at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

These are not minor issues. These are not rumors that can be brushed aside with a smile and a soundbite. These are allegations that demand answers—not just from the courts, but from the Vice President herself.

The favorite alibi of “this is just politics”—amplified by loyalists like Senator Imee Marcos—is no longer enough to calm the growing public demand for truth, transparency, and justice. If this truly is political persecution, then prove it. Show us the evidence. Defend your name with facts, not slogans. The Filipino people deserve no less.

Because this time, the electorate is watching. And they are smarter. They are struggling, suffering, and sacrificing daily. They know that when billions go missing or lives are lost, someone must be held accountable.

2028 is still far off. If the Vice President hopes to lead this nation someday, she must start by showing the courage to face these allegations head-on. Not with emotion. Not with diversion. But with clarity, truth, and a willingness to submit herself to the same laws and standards that she, as a public official, swore to uphold.

The era of impunity is over—or at least, it should be.

#saraduterte2028 #political persecution defense