Photo credit: PDP-LABAN

With the impeachment threat looming over Sara Duterte, a lawmaker believes the Duterte camp is already making early moves to protect its grip on power — even if it means pushing another family member to the forefront.

House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio on Monday said the appointment of Sebastian Duterte as president of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) is not just a routine party reshuffle, but a calculated “Plan B” for the 2028 elections.

For Tinio, the timing is hard to ignore. With impeachment proceedings gaining ground, he said the Duterte camp appears to be bracing for the possibility that Sara Duterte could be removed from office and permanently disqualified from running — a scenario that would kill her presidential bid before it even begins.

He warned that elevating Baste Duterte and forming new alliances signal early efforts to recycle political power within the same family, instead of addressing the serious allegations now confronting the vice president.

Even before the 2028 race officially takes shape, Sara Duterte had already declared her intent to run for president. But that ambition now faces a major roadblock, with the Constitution clearly stating that conviction in an impeachment trial means removal from office and a lifetime ban from public service.

Tinio also flagged the creation of the Duterte-aligned Reform Alliance for Good Governance and Accountability (RAGE), saying it looks less like a reform coalition and more like a campaign machine being assembled years ahead of the elections.

For critics, these developments raise a familiar concern — political dynasties tightening their hold, even in the face of controversy.
At the center of it all, however, is the vice president’s continued refusal to directly answer the accusations against her. Despite being given the chance to respond, she has instead rejected the process, calling the complaints baseless and the proceedings biased.

The charges she faces are far from minor. These include alleged betrayal of public trust, constitutional violations, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high crimes linked to the supposed misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds during her time as education secretary. There are also questions about unexplained wealth and reported threats against Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

As the House Committee on Justice prepares to open hearings on April 14, Sara Duterte is taking the legal route — asking the Supreme Court to stop the proceedings while also filing complaints against one of the key witnesses.

The committee has 60 session days to decide whether there is probable cause to impeach. If it moves forward, the case will head to a plenary vote and potentially to a Senate trial.