MAYOR Sebastian Duterte has fiercely condemned the ongoing Senate impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, branding the proceedings a weaponized political maneuver orchestrated by the current administration to neutralize her ahead of the 2028 presidential elections.
In a recent interview with Alvin & Tourism, Duterte did not hold back, claiming that the administration has spent years plotting to sideline his sister to secure their own grip on power.
”Ang masasabi ko lang talaga, ginawa nila ‘yung impeachment—for three years talaga ‘yan pinagsikapan ng administration kasi gusto nila sila pa rin. They are preventing Vice President Inday Sara Duterte from running for the 2028 elections. ‘Yan talaga ang main reason ng impeachment na ‘yan (What I can really say is they manufactured this impeachment—the administration really worked hard on this for three years because they want to stay in power. They are preventing Vice President Inday Sara Duterte from running in the 2028 elections. That is the true main reason behind that impeachment),” he said.
The mayor’s remarks come on the heels of a separate, recently released video statement in which he sharply criticized the national government’s aggressive political pressure against his family and allies.
When pressed for his stance on recent Senate crackdowns—including the high-profile and controversial arrests of Senator Rodante Marcoleta and Mike Defensor—the local chief executive expressed deep skepticism toward the administration’s motives.
”Mahirap talaga intindihan ang kilos ng gobyerno… kasi syempre sila ‘yung nasa kapangyarihan,” Duterte stated, suggesting that the justice system is being leveraged as a political tool.
According to the mayor, the arrests are not about accountability, but rather a part of a broader play to dismantle the Duterte family’s political influence well before voters head to the polls in 2028.
Meanwhile, the administration has yet to comment on the matter.
