Palace on VP Sara’s presidential bid: Be wary of Manchurian candidates

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February 18, 2026 | 4:27pm

MANILA, Philippines — The public should be wary of Manchurian candidates, the Palace said after Vice President Sara Duterte announced her presidential bid for 2028.

A Manchurian candidate is a dummy candidate that is controlled by another state.

Sara had formally declared her candidacy in the 2028 presidential elections after months of teasing her run. However, her announcement comes amid a looming impeachment complaint against her, as well as the impending confirmation of charges against her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Palace said that Marcos only had one thing to say to Duterte: “Good luck!”

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said it was the only thing that Marcos had to say to his former running mate.

However, Castro did not mince her words against Duterte.

“Depende na po sa tao kung papaano nila susuriin ang mga kandidato. Isipin po nila ang kandidato at magiging lider ay dapat na makabayan, dapat interes ng bayan ang isinusulong. At maging cautious tayo, maging mapanuri kung isang Manchurian candidate ba ang maibuboto ninyo,” Castro said.

(It depends on the people on how they will assess the candidate. They should think about the candidate and leader who is patriotic, who advances the interest of the nation. And we should be cautious, be critical if you will vote for a Manchurian candidate.)

Duterte and her family had been criticized for their friendly disposition with China despite the ongoing territorial row with the country over the West Philippine Sea.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Duterte apologized to the public for running alongside President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2022 and helping him win.

Before Duterte apologizes to the public, however, the Palace said that she should say sorry to the victims of the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the term of her father.

Castro said that despite Marcos and Duterte campaigning for one another in 2022, it was apparent who was still working.

“Mas dapat niyang inunang humingi ng tawad sa taumbayan lalong-lalo na sa mga biktima ng EJK. Dapat niya rin pong ihingi ng tawad at nakalimutan niya nang siya ay magsabing mayroon siyang kilalang assassin at handa siyang magpapatay,” Castro said.

(She should ask for forgiveness from the public, especially the victims of EJK. She should ask for forgiveness that she already forgot about how she said that she knew of an assassin and that she was ready to get them to kill.)

In November 2024, Sara claimed that she had contracted someone to kill the president, First Lady Liza Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if an alleged assassination plot against her were to succeed. She later argued that she never used the word "assassin."

But Castro did not end there, reading a laundry list of Duterte’s past controversies, including her excessive travels and apparent shortcomings as the Education Secretary—a role that Marcos himself put her in.

Not only did Castro bring up Sara’s controversies, but Rodrigo’s as well, including the flood control projects that started during his time as president.