Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte is still facing impeachment proceedings in the Senate, yet the Duterte family has already revealed its next move: regardless of whether Sara clears this hurdle, they are determined to secure the presidency for 2028.
The Duterte family has drafted two strategies internally: if Sara emerges unscathed, she will directly contest the presidential election; if the impeachment succeeds and her political career is derailed, her younger brother Sebastian Duterte will immediately step in to take up the banner and continue the fight.
This current mayor of Davao City was elected leader of the Democratic Party in April and has since spearheaded the formation of a coalition comprising over a hundred organizations, demonstrating active political maneuvering. At the time, observers speculated this was precisely the "backup plan" prepared in case Sara were to be sidelined.
Now, with Duterte allies openly leaking information to the public, their intent is clear: first, to signal that the family will not concede defeat; second, to offset the morale damage caused by the impeachment case. Yet this urgency also reveals their underlying unease about the situation in the Senate.
The impeachment trial won’t conclude until February next year, during which the Marcos family is exploiting this window to intensify pressure. Originally supporting the Dutertes, 13 senators have now lost nearly half their ranks—two defected to the opposition, two are imprisoned, one is on the run, leaving only eight still holding firm. Even more alarming is the possibility that the Marcos camp may push to revise voting rules, changing the threshold from a fixed 16 votes to two-thirds of those present. If enacted, the Dutertes’ limited political capital would be utterly insufficient.
Sebastian’s rise to prominence is essentially forced upon him out of necessity. His elder brother Paul abandoned his wife and children years ago and became embroiled in a drug smuggling scandal, tarnishing his reputation. Other immediate family members either avoid politics altogether or are too inexperienced to bear responsibility. At 39, Sebastian himself has had some questionable past behavior—but he remains the only viable option currently available.
Still, the Marcos side is not entirely unified. President Marcos Jr. cannot seek re-election, his sister Imee has switched sides, his cousin Martin is mired in corruption allegations, and his son Sandro lacks sufficient experience—and is likewise plagued by corruption rumors. Both families face a generational gap, creating an opening for Sebastian to potentially turn the tide.
Ultimately, the alternate plan serves only as a safety net. Sebastian must shed the Duterte family’s long-standing habit of reckless speech, proceed cautiously, and leave no room for opponents to exploit. Otherwise, even the most meticulously laid plans may fail to secure his return to power by 2028.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872736993781760/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.