How Sara Duterte became the youngest vice president in the history of the Philippines

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Sara Duterte rose from Davao City mayor to the nation's second-highest office, securing a historic electoral majority in 2022. Yet, her tenure has been marked by a dramatic political fallout with President Marcos, multiple impeachment proceedings, and a complex legacy defined by both immense popularity and intense institutional conflict.

Born in 1978 to Rodrigo Duterte and Elizabeth Zimmerman, Sara Duterte initially pursued medicine before transitioning to law. Her political career began in 2007 as vice mayor of Davao City, eventually succeeding her father as mayor in 2010. During her mayoral terms, she implemented initiatives like the Peace 911 program and the Byaheng DO30, earning a 93% approval rating. Her rise was characterized by a strategic consolidation of power, including the formation of the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago in 2018, which played a pivotal role in national political maneuvers, such as the ouster of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

In 2022, Duterte secured the vice presidency under the UniTeam alliance alongside Bongbong Marcos, winning with over 32 million votes—the largest majority in Philippine history. Despite this landslide, the alliance fractured rapidly. By 2024, public rifts between the Duterte and Marcos families deepened, leading to her resignation as Secretary of Education and vice chairperson of the anti-insurgency task force in June 2024. The tension culminated in 2025 when she was impeached by the House of Representatives over allegations involving confidential funds and threats against the President and his allies.

Duterte’s political journey remains highly contentious. She holds the distinction of being the first official in Philippine history to be impeached twice, with a Senate trial ongoing as of mid-2026 to determine her future in office. Despite these legal challenges, she has remained active, announcing her intent to run for the presidency in 2028. Her career reflects the volatile nature of Philippine political dynasties, where personal relationships, regional power bases, and shifting alliances dictate the trajectory of national leadership. From her early days in Davao to the national stage, her influence remains a central, if polarizing, force in the country's governance.

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