MANILA – Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said he would be compelled to come out of retirement and run to become a senator or seek the nation’s second-highest post if his daughter, Vice-President Sara Duterte, was impeached.

His comments came as the Vice-President faced public scrutiny over her request for and past use of confidential funds, with one opposition lawmaker saying there have been informal talks at the House of Representatives to oust her. 

“If you do that, I’ll return to politics. I will be forced to,” Mr Duterte, the 78-year-old firebrand predecessor of Mr Ferdinand Marcos Jr, said in the local language during his regular interview with broadcaster SMNI on Nov 20, which was posted on Facebook.

“It’s either I will run for senator or I will run for vice-president, even if I’m old.”

Mr Duterte who ended his six-year term in June 2022 with a high popularity rating, warned political opponents he did not name that the midterm election is “just around the corner”. 

The Philippines will vote for local leaders as well as members of the House and the Senate in May 2025, and elect the next president and vice-president in 2028.

“Look, you don’t have a headache as of now. I will be forced to come out of retirement,” Mr Duterte said. The former leader brought up the idea of seeking the vice-president post or a senate seat about a year before the 2022 election.

Mr Marcos has backed the Vice-President, describing their relationship as “excellent”.

“We don’t want her to be impeached. She does not deserve to be impeached,” the President said, dismissing speculation that the coalition with Ms Duterte is fraying.

The alliance of the two families helped both Mr Marcos and Ms Duterte secure landslide wins in May 2022. BLOOMBERG