December 25, 2025 | 12:11pm
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte did not make any public statements about losing motivation to run for president in 2028, contrary to a fake quote card circulating on social media.
Between December 18 and December 25, several posts on Facebook, TikTok and Threads shared an image designed to resemble a quote or story card from a credible news outfit, featuring the alleged quote, when it was said, and where it was first published.
The posts falsely claimed that Duterte said on December 18:
“Hindi ko maramdaman ang Pasko (I don’t feel the Christmas spirit), I’m losing the motivation to run for president in 2028.”
Those who shared the image had different captions. Some urged her to drop any plans for a 2028 presidential run, while others expressed disbelief and called Duterte “dramatic.”
Some posts were more neutral, posing questions instead of opinions, asking what had happened.
People who commented were also divided but largely accepted the quote as authentic, with some expressing support for the vice president and others saying their “Christmas wish came true.”
Rating: This is fake.
Facts
No news article or quote card from actual news organizations reported Duterte’s thoughts on the 2028 presidential elections in December.
The quote card also copies the visual style of GMA News’ carded stories on social media. Even without a logo, it may appear credible to Filipinos familiar with the social media posts of major news outlets.
It is also worth noting that PH News Update, which made the post on TikTok, shares similar photos mostly about the Duterte family that mimic breaking news.
PH News Update and GMA News Online
Only two public remarks have also been reported in connection with her views on Christmas and any mention of a possible presidential bid.
First, she said the holidays felt somber for many Filipinos because of the flood control scandal and budget insertions plaguing the whole government with corruption issues.
Second, she denied any connection to Ramil Madriaga, an alleged former aide and self-confessed bagman who testified before the Office of the Ombudsman that illegal funds backed her 2022 campaign.
He also claimed that while in detention, Duterte offered to help have his kidnapping case dismissed if he withdrew the statements he had made about her.
Duterte said Madriaga is only making these allegations to derail her possible presidential run in the 2028 elections.
“He is now disseminating false statements to government authorities as part of a concerted effort to obstruct and undermine my possible candidacy for president,” Duterte said in a statement on December 22.
One of Sara’s last public appearances before December 18 was in The Hague, Netherlands, where she visited her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and his supporters.
In a livestream by the Facebook page “Alvin & Tourism” on December 12, she thanked those who came to support her father while he faces crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court and wished them good health.
According to her official Facebook pages, Sara made no such comments about running for president. She focused instead on giving her opinion on rumors of another possible impeachment and the suspension of Rep. Kiko Barzaga.
Why we fact-checked this
Over the past year, the vice president has been careful in discussing her possible presidential bid, saying she is considering a run but is still undecided and will likely make any announcement by the end of 2026.
Claims that she has lost motivation to run contradict her past statements and would imply prior plans, which news outlets would have covered. Sara has since floated the idea of running for president since her relationship with her running mate, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., had gone sour.
The post on Threads garnered more than 14,800 views, 423 likes, and nine reposts. On TikTok, it reached over 201,000 views, 6,880 likes, 522 comments and 129 shares.
Among the five Facebook posts, the most shared one was reposted 269 times, while another received 6,100 reactions, 1,400 comments and 98 shares.