The Boomerang Effect: Why Sara Duterte’s Words Always Come Back to Haunt Her

I take a sip of coffee, letting the warmth settle in. Some people don’t realize that words have weight, and the wrong ones have a way of circling back.

Sara Duterte hasn’t figured that out.

Every time she opens her mouth, she digs a deeper grave.

The latest example? Atty. Claire Castro didn’t even have to try. Sara Duterte stood in front of the public and encouraged Filipinos to express their anger against the government. The Palace’s response was swift: where was this outrage when her father was in power? (Rappler)

That’s the thing about speaking out when you have no moral ascendancy—your own history becomes your biggest enemy.

Moral ascendancy and political correctness don’t exist in the Duterte playbook. Their politics thrive on bravado, on a refusal to be held to the same standards they demand from others. But when there's no credibility to stand on, every word becomes a liability.

Sabi nga nila, just because you can, it doesn’t mean you should.

I glance at my cup, watching the steam rise. Words, once spoken, can’t be taken back. Sara Duterte has been vocal about corruption, governance, and national issues, but each time she speaks, the weight of her own past drags her down.

This blog examines the key issues she cannot touch without it boomeranging right back—each one a reminder of why her words carry no weight.

Corruption and Financial Transparency: The Duterte Family’s Achilles’ Heel

Corruption is one of those topics that politicians love to weaponize—until it turns on them.

Sara Duterte has tried to position herself as a leader who stands against shady dealings in government, but there’s a problem. She comes from a political dynasty that has been accused of treating public funds like a private bank account. Every time she raises the issue of corruption, she invites the same scrutiny that haunted her father’s presidency.

Her last name guarantees it.

Rodrigo Duterte’s Alleged Graft and Plunder

The Duterte administration built its brand on the illusion of strong, decisive leadership. Behind that image, billions in government contracts were handed out under questionable circumstances.

A criminal complaint filed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV accuses Rodrigo Duterte and his longtime aide, Senator Bong Go, of graft and plunder over Davao construction contracts that allegedly favored Go’s family businesses. Investigations reveal that since 2007, firms owned by Go’s father and sibling secured PHP 6.6 billion ($144 million) in government projects—a monopoly that flourished through Duterte’s years as mayor and later as president (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Jurist).

Sara Duterte never spoke about this. Not once.

She didn’t question where the money went, didn’t demand accountability, didn’t take a stand against corruption when it was happening under her own roof. But now, she expects people to listen when she talks about good governance.

That’s not how credibility works.

Sara Duterte’s Own Confidential Fund Controversy

For someone who claims to be on the side of the people, Sara Duterte’s financial records tell a different story.

In just 11 days, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) burned through PHP 125 million in confidential funds—money meant for national security and intelligence operations. No breakdown. No transparency. Just a budget gone in less than two weeks (The Benildean).

It doesn’t stop there.

As DepEd secretary, she secured another PHP 112.5 million in confidential funds, despite education having nothing to do with intelligence operations. Worse, DepEd’s own finance unit admitted they didn’t know how the funds were used (Inquirer).

That’s not just poor financial management. That’s a scandal.

Yet when questioned, she deflected. Played the victim. Claimed she was being singled out. The same woman who calls for honesty in public service refuses to answer basic questions about where taxpayer money went.

The Impeachment Question

For all her attempts to downplay the issue, the numbers don’t lie. This isn’t just about bad optics—it’s about accountability.

On December 2, 2024, a coalition of civil society leaders and sectoral representatives filed an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing 24 alleged offenses, including betrayal of public trust. Just two days later, on December 4, a second complaint was filed, focusing on her alleged misuse of confidential funds. By February 5, 2025, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte on charges ranging from plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to large-scale corruption, with 215 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Senate trial is set to commence after Congress reconvenes in June. (​Sunstar.com.ph)

She has no one to blame but herself.

This is what happens when someone with no moral ascendancy tries to preach about corruption. Instead of gaining support, she becomes the subject of her own accusations.

Foreign Policy and the West Philippine Sea: Strategic Silence or Hypocrisy?

Silence speaks volumes.

Sara Duterte has plenty to say about governance, corruption, and national issues—except when it comes to China. On the West Philippine Sea dispute, her stance is simple: she doesn’t have one.

Not because she doesn’t know what’s happening. But because speaking out would expose an uncomfortable truth.

Sara Duterte’s Silence on China’s Aggression

While Filipino fishermen are harassed in their own waters and the Philippine Coast Guard faces Chinese blockades, Sara Duterte remains notably quiet. When asked why, she had a ready excuse: "It is well-settled that the President is the chief architect of foreign policy." (Inquirer)

Technically, she’s not wrong. But it’s also a convenient way to dodge responsibility. Other government officials—lawmakers, defense leaders, and even past vice presidents—have all spoken up in defense of Philippine sovereignty.

Her reluctance isn’t about protocol. It’s about avoiding comparisons to her father.

Rodrigo Duterte’s Pro-China Stance

If Sara Duterte were to condemn China’s aggressive actions, it would immediately raise questions about her father’s legacy.

Rodrigo Duterte weakened the Philippines’ stance on the West Philippine Sea more than any leader before him. Despite a historic victory at the Hague in 2016, where the Philippines won an arbitration case against China, Duterte dismissed it, calling the ruling "just a piece of paper" (Al Jazeera).

Instead of pushing back against Chinese encroachment, he cozied up to Beijing, welcoming investments while turning a blind eye to territorial violations. His government refused to confront China, ignored military and diplomatic advice, and left Filipino fisherfolk to fend for themselves.

That was his legacy.

And Sara Duterte knows she can’t run from it.

Why Sara Duterte Cannot Criticize Marcos Jr. on the West Philippine Sea Issue

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken a different approach. While far from perfect, his administration has been more vocal against China, strengthening alliances with Japan, Australia, and the United States to counter Beijing’s growing influence.

If Sara Duterte dares to attack Marcos Jr. on foreign policy, the comparisons would be brutal.

How can she criticize his stance when her father handed China everything on a silver platter?

Even when pressed, all she managed was a vague, non-committal statement that the Philippines’ claims are "anchored on the Permanent Court of Arbitration award." No push for stronger action. No real position. Just a half-hearted acknowledgment of a ruling her father actively downplayed. (Global Nation Inquirer)

Because she knows the moment she speaks, the ghosts of her father’s foreign policy will come back to haunt her.

Governance and Leadership: The Decline of Sara Duterte’s Political Influence

Power is a strange thing. It can be inherited, borrowed, or forced into people’s hands. But if there’s no substance behind it, it crumbles.

Sara Duterte is learning that the hard way.

Her name once carried weight. People saw her as the natural successor to her father, the one who would continue the Duterte brand of leadership. But influence isn’t just about lineage—it’s about control. And right now, she’s losing it.

Falling Public Support

Numbers don’t lie.

Sara Duterte’s approval ratings have dropped to 50% nationwide, with a sharp decline to 34% in Metro Manila. Even in Mindanao—her family’s stronghold—she has lost 13 percentage points in public support (Inquirer Opinion).

For a politician who once had unwavering backing, that kind of decline isn’t just a bad survey result. It’s a warning.

The public is watching. The same people who once supported her father’s iron-fisted rule are now questioning whether she’s worth following.

Loyalty isn’t guaranteed.

A “Poor Copy” of Rodrigo Duterte?

Rodrigo Duterte was many things—controversial, vulgar, and, at times, terrifying. But one thing was undeniable: he knew how to hold power. His leadership thrived on projecting fear, unpredictability, and absolute control.

Sara Duterte has tried to replicate his playbook, but it’s not working.

Analysts have pointed out that she lacks the charisma, spontaneity, and wit that made her father’s political style effective (Inquirer Opinion).

Rodrigo Duterte could throw out an outrageous statement, and people would laugh—or fear him. Sara tries the same, and it comes off as forced, lacking the same impact. She wants to be feared, but instead, she’s questioned. She wants to be seen as a leader, but instead, she’s struggling to hold onto influence.

What worked for her father doesn’t necessarily work for her. And people are starting to notice.

Threats Against Government Officials

Her struggle to maintain control has led to desperation—and dangerous miscalculations.

Sara Duterte allegedly threatened to assassinate President Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were harmed (AP News).

This wasn’t just political posturing.

The Philippine National Police took it seriously enough to file a formal complaint, turning what could have been brushed off as rhetoric into a full-blown scandal (Reuters).

A sitting vice president threatening the President, the First Lady, and the Speaker of the House? It’s the kind of political disaster that signals instability, recklessness, and a loss of control.

Instead of solidifying her power, she’s only making herself look weaker.

Human Rights and Duterte’s Bloody Legacy

Some wounds never heal. Some stains never fade.

Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs was brutal, relentless, and, for many, unforgettable. Thousands of Filipinos were gunned down in the streets—suspected drug users and small-time pushers executed without trial. The world watched as the country became a killing field, a massacre disguised as justice.

Sara Duterte has never acknowledged the blood on her father’s hands.

Rodrigo Duterte’s Drug War and the ICC

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity. His war on drugs led to thousands of extrajudicial killings, with estimates ranging from 6,000 (police figures) to 30,000 (human rights organizations). Many of the dead were never given due process, their families left with nothing but body bags and unanswered questions (Amnesty International, BBC).

Duterte never denied the killings. He encouraged them. His infamous words still echo: "If you destroy my country with drugs, I will kill you."

This is the legacy Sara Duterte carries.

Sara Duterte’s Silence on Human Rights Violations

Throughout her father’s presidency, she never condemned the killings. Even as human rights groups, international courts, and grieving families demanded justice, she stayed quiet.

Now, she wants to speak about governance and law enforcement. But she can’t.

Not without people remembering the thousands buried under her father’s policies.

Authoritarian Tendencies and Crackdowns on Dissent

Like her father, Sara Duterte governs through intimidation, not leadership. She dismisses critics, refuses accountability, and treats opposition as an enemy rather than a necessary check on power. (Time)

This is why her silence on human rights is more than just a personal choice—it’s a political liability.

The moment she speaks about justice, fairness, or law and order, the ghosts of the drug war return. And she has no answers for them.

Gender Issues and Misogyny: The Duterte Family’s Record

Powerful women in politics often have to fight harder to be taken seriously. But what happens when that fight is against their own history?

Sara Duterte presents herself as a strong female leader, but she carries the baggage of a political dynasty that has repeatedly degraded, objectified, and dismissed women. Her father’s legacy is one of unchecked misogyny, and she has never once spoken against it.

Now, every time she tries to talk about gender issues, the weight of her silence crushes her credibility.

Rodrigo Duterte’s Long History of Misogynistic Statements

Rodrigo Duterte has never respected women. Not as equals, not as leaders, not as human beings. His words prove it.

When an Australian missionary was raped and killed during a 1989 hostage crisis in Davao, Duterte—then mayor—joked about it:

"I looked at her face. She was like a beautiful American actress. Son of a bitch, what a waste. I thought, they raped her, they lined up to rape her. I was angry that she was raped. That was one thing. But she was really beautiful. The mayor should have gone first. What a waste." (CSWCD Study)

That was not a slip of the tongue. That was who he was.

His presidency was filled with equally vile remarks. He once encouraged violence against female rebels, telling soldiers:

"We won’t kill you. We will just shoot your vagina, so that—if there is no vagina, it would be useless."

And he didn’t stop there.

Duterte repeatedly made rape jokes, suggested that women shouldn’t be president because they are too emotional, and called female politicians "nagging bitches." (Al Jazeera)

He was never held accountable for any of it.

Sara Duterte’s Silence on Her Father’s Misogyny

For years, women’s rights groups, lawmakers, and activists called out Duterte’s behavior. But Sara Duterte said nothing.

She never condemned his remarks. Never distanced herself from his rhetoric. Never defended the women he insulted, ridiculed, and disrespected.

Instead, she expects to be seen as a strong female leader while ignoring the fact that her father built his political brand by tearing women down.

Her silence is complicity.

A Political Trap of Her Own Making

Now, whenever Sara Duterte speaks about women’s empowerment, gender equality, or sexual violence, she faces one question she cannot answer:

"Why didn’t you say anything when your father was the one degrading women?"

She had the power, influence, and platform to challenge him. But she didn’t.

And that’s why she cannot credibly speak on gender issues now. The moment she does, she is reminded that when it mattered most, she chose silence over principle. (CSWCD Study)

Political Decorum and Democratic Norms: A Legacy of Intimidation

Politics is about influence. But for the Dutertes, it has always been about fear.

Rodrigo Duterte treated governance like a battlefield. Those who opposed him were silenced, jailed, or destroyed. Sara Duterte follows the same pattern, but instead of commanding authority, her actions now signal recklessness and desperation.

Sara Duterte’s Public Outbursts and Abuse of Power

Violence has always been part of Sara Duterte’s approach to leadership.

In 2011, as mayor of Davao, she punched a court sheriff four times in the face—on live television—because he was enforcing a demolition order. The sheriff, Abe Andres, was just following the law, but that didn’t matter. Duterte wanted him to stop, and when he refused, she resorted to physical assault. (Inquirer)

It was a moment that defined her leadership style. Power through brute force. Compliance through intimidation.

She was celebrated for it back then. But what once passed for strength now reeks of poor impulse control.

Her hostile behavior in legislative hearings, failure to maintain alliances, and public threats have only further eroded her position. The more she leans into aggression, the more she looks erratic—a politician losing influence, not gaining it. (Time)

Rodrigo Duterte’s Rule of Fear

None of this is surprising. Sara Duterte was raised in the shadow of a president who ruled through intimidation.

Rodrigo Duterte normalized violence as a political tool. Under his administration:

• Senator Leila de Lima was jailed on dubious charges after investigating extrajudicial killings.

• Media outlets like ABS-CBN and Rappler were harassed and threatened. (Amnesty International)

• The police were encouraged to kill drug suspects, turning the justice system into an execution squad.

His formula for power was simple: create fear, eliminate opposition, and never back down.

But what worked for him is falling apart for Sara.

The Duterte Name: A Diminishing Political Currency

There was a time when the Duterte name could bend Philippine politics to its will. Rodrigo Duterte held the country in a chokehold, his words shaping policy, his threats silencing opposition.

That time is fading.

Sara Duterte is learning a hard lesson—power inherited is not power guaranteed.

The Decline of the Duterte Brand

Rodrigo Duterte once commanded overwhelming public support. His approval ratings soared even as his administration was accused of human rights abuses, corruption, and strongman tactics. For years, the Duterte name was synonymous with unchallenged political dominance.

Not anymore.

Sara Duterte’s approval ratings have plummeted, even in Mindanao, once considered her family’s stronghold. A 13-point drop in her home turf is not just a warning—it’s an indictment (Inquirer). The once-unquestioned loyalty to the Duterte brand is starting to fracture.

Political allies who once stood beside her are keeping their distance. The power dynamics have shifted, and with her recent impeachment battle, questionable financial decisions, and public missteps, the once-mighty Duterte influence is no longer a political shield.

Failed Political Gambits and Power Struggles

Sara Duterte's biggest political gamble—aligning with Marcos in 2022—crumbled almost as soon as it began. The alliance that secured her the vice presidency turned toxic, revealing cracks in the coalition that were too deep to repair.

Her resignation from the DepEd post, rather than reinforcing her image as a decisive leader, made her appear unstable and unreliable. The impeachment proceedings only further exposed her vulnerabilities, showing the public that even her former allies are willing to throw her under the bus.

Unlike her father, who thrived on dominance, Sara Duterte now looks like a politician losing control of the game. The Duterte brand was built on strength, but she is bleeding political capital with every misstep.

The End of Dutertismo?

The Duterte political playbook relied on fear, control, and the illusion of invincibility. But that illusion is breaking apart.

• The name no longer guarantees loyalty.

• Political figures who once bowed to Duterte influence are now seeking safer alliances.

• The once-powerful Duterte machinery is rusting, and Sara Duterte does not have the same grip on power her father had.

Rodrigo Duterte’s silence—or his sudden reappearance—may not be enough to revive their fading influence. The political landscape has changed. Sara Duterte is fighting too many battles at once, and without absolute control, the fear factor that once protected their name is gone.

Conclusion: The Grave She Keeps Digging

This has been a long musing—one that took two refills of Barako coffee to research and write. And the more I went through the facts, the clearer it became.

Every time Sara Duterte speaks, she doesn’t just expose a flaw—she unearths a past that refuses to stay buried. She cannot call out corruption without her own financial scandals resurfacing. She cannot criticize governance failures without her missteps being thrown back at her. She cannot denounce political violence when she has a history of throwing punches, both figuratively and literally. She has no moral ascendancy, no credibility, and no escape.

This is the battle she is facing—not just against political rivals, but against the weight of her own name. The Duterte brand once thrived on fear, but without absolute power, fear turns into scrutiny, and scrutiny turns into collapse. She may still fight, but the truth is clear: every word she speaks, every move she makes, only buries her deeper.