Sara ‘single, ready to mingle’ with political parties

MANILA, Philippines — She would rather be “single but ready to mingle,” said Vice President Sara Duterte as she explained her decision not to join her father’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) even if her younger brother, outgoing Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, is now its acting president.

Vice mayor-elect Duterte will act as PDP-Laban’s president after Sen. Robin Padilla took a leave of absence from the party’s presidency, ostensibly to focus on his work in the 20th Congress.

Duterte automatically took over under the party’s rules on succession.

The Vice President said she was invited by her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to join the party in July last year after she resigned as Department of Education secretary.

She declined the invitation because “she does not want to talk to politicians.”

“I have nothing against everyone. In general, I just want to be like this. Just like what I keep saying, I’m single and ready to mingle in terms of politics... So until now, I still have no decision if I will join PDP,” she said.

PDP-Laban announced Padilla’s “leave” from the party yesterday, saying the senator decided to devote his time to working on the party’s legislative agenda in the coming 20th Congress.

In a letter to party vice chairman Alfonso Cusi, Padilla said his efforts during the May 2025 elections took a significant toll on his “time and energy,” prompting him to decide to temporarily relinquish his post.

Padilla assured party members of his continued commitment to PDP-Laban and reaffirmed his loyalty to detained former president Duterte, who remains the party’s chairman.