The gloves are off in Manila. Vice President Sara Duterte has officially declared her intention to run for President in 2028, shattering the fragile facade of the "UniTeam" alliance and plunging the Philippines into open political warfare.

In a defiant press conference, the daughter of the former strongman Rodrigo Duterte made her ambition explicit. "My life was never meant to be only mine," she proclaimed, framing her candidacy as a destiny rather than a choice. This announcement is a direct challenge to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her running mate turned bitter rival. The feud, which has simmered behind closed doors, is now a raging fire.

Dynasties at War

The timing is explosive. Sara Duterte is fresh from surviving an impeachment attempt and seeing her father facing the looming threat of an ICC trial for his bloody drug war. By announcing her run now, years ahead of the schedule, she is seizing the narrative and fortifying her political base against the Marcos administration's attacks.

The collapse of the Marcos-Duterte alliance was inevitable. Two of the country's most powerful political families were never going to share power indefinitely. The "UniTeam" that swept the 2022 elections was a marriage of convenience, and the divorce is proving to be messy, vindictive, and public.

• The Impeachment Shadow: The failed impeachment bid has only emboldened her. She is positioning herself as a victim of political persecution, a narrative that resonates deeply with her father's populist base.
• The ICC Factor: With Rodrigo Duterte in the crosshairs of international justice, Sara's presidency could be his ultimate shield. A return to Malacañang by a Duterte would almost certainly shut the door on any ICC cooperation.
• The Marcos Move: The administration is expected to intensify its legal and political pressure. Expect revived corruption allegations and renewed efforts to isolate her within the government.

The Battle for 2028 Starts Now

Philippines politics is a bloodsport, and the bell has just rung for the main event. Sara Duterte has drawn a line in the sand, daring the Marcos machine to stop her. She is betting that her family's brand of strongman populism is still more potent than the Marcos restoration narrative.

For the next two years, governance will likely take a backseat to this titanic power struggle. The Philippines is now held hostage by the ambitions of two families who treat the presidency as an heirloom. Sara Duterte is running, and she is running angry.

In the game of thrones, Manila edition, there are no runners-up. You win or you go to jail.