Duterte’s Daughter Exits Philippines Ruling Party Amid ‘Political Powerplay’

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (L) and his daughter Sara Duterte arrive for the opening of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference in Boao, Hainan province, China, on April 10, 2018. AFP via Getty Images

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said Friday that she had “irrevocably” resigned from the country’s ruling party, where she served as the chairperson, lamenting “execrable political powerplay.”

Her resignation from the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) Party took effect on the same day.

In her statement, Duterte did not explicitly state the reason behind her decision but reaffirmed that her commitment to serving the people under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s leadership is “immutable.”

“I am here today because of the trust of the Filipino people in me to lead and serve them and the country, and this cannot be poisoned by political toxicity or undermined by execrable political powerplay,” she wrote.

Duterte also extended her gratitude to the party members for their support that “once demonstrated that unity is possible to advance our shared dreams” for the country.

“I call on all leaders to focus on the work that must be done and leave a legacy of a strong and stable homeland,” she added.

Duterte joined the Lakas-CMD in November 2021 and won the 2022 vice-presidential election. Her running mate Marcos succeeded her father, Rodrigo Duterte, in becoming the country’s president that same year.

Marcos, popularly known as “Bongbong,” is the son and namesake of former Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.—who ruled the Philippines for two decades and placed the country under martial law in 1972.

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, his wife, Louise (L) and his sister Imee (R) smile upon arrival at the Supreme Court in Padre Faura, Metro Manila, Philippines, on April 2, 2018. Romeo Ranoco/File Photo/Reuters

Marcos commented that Duterte’s resignation from the political party was likely due to being “overwhelmed” by the responsibilities she held as the country’s vice president, education secretary, and vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

“It’s exactly as she says,” he told reporters, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

“She has too much work to do that she cannot be involved in any [of this], she cannot allow herself to be distracted. That’s the way I read it,” Marcos added.

The Lakas-CMD party has accepted Duterte’s resignation, saying that it respects and “understands her reason” for leaving the party.

Duterte’s resignation came two days after congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was demoted from her position as the House of Representatives senior deputy speaker to a regular deputy speaker. A House leader claimed it was meant to relieve her from a “heavy” workload, Inquirer Net reported.

Arroyo’s demotion came on the heels of rumors that she was plotting “a coup” against Speaker Martin Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD and also Marcos’ cousin, which she has strongly denied.

“When President Marcos won, I wanted to aspire for the speakership of the House. But it soon became apparent that he was most comfortable with then Congressman Martin Romualdez as Speaker,” she said in a statement. “It should be noted that being speaker once more is no longer part of my political objectives.”

Arroyo served as the country’s president from 2001 to 2010 and was described as a “stalwart” of the Lakas-CMD. She is also known as a “close ally” to Duterte and is the daughter of former President Diosdado Macapagal, who held office from 1961 to 1965.