VP Sara Duterte pays tribute to OFWs as she visits UK amid impeachment trial

Vice President Sara Duterte met with members of the Filipino community in London on July 25, 2026, paying tribute to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as part of a multi-country foreign trip.

Photos of the gathering were shared on the official Facebook page of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) (PDP Laban)—the political party headed by her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Although VP Duterte is not a member of PDP Laban, the party supported her 2022 vice-presidential campaign and recently endorsed her prospective 2028 presidential bid.

After the London engagement, VP Duterte posted a photo of herself holding up a hand-lettered sign crafted by supporters reading: “Welcome, Inday Sara. Our full support from London, UK.”

She captioned the photo with an expression of gratitude to the UK-based diaspora:

"To all Overseas Filipinos in the United Kingdom, thank you for your hard work, dedication, and sacrifices. Your resilience and commitment continue to inspire many, and your contributions make a positive difference both in your communities in the UK and back home in the Philippines.

Your kindness, unity, and love for your families and country are deeply appreciated. May you continue to be blessed with good health, success, and happiness. Daghang salamat!"

According to UK government estimates, approximately 200,000 Filipinos currently reside in the United Kingdom.

In an interview at the sidelines of the event, VP Duterte was asked if she intended to resign from her post. She said she will never resign because she owes it to the 32.2 million Filipinos who voted for her as Vice President in 2022 to stay in her position.

PDP Laban elects Mayor Baste Duterte as Party President

On the same day as Vice President Duterte’s London event, PDP Laban convened its National Assembly at the Arena Athletics in Davao City.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, a key party member and former Special Assistant to the President, shared photos of the Davao gathering online.

Go announced that the assembly elected new national party leadership, naming Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte—the Vice President’s brother—as the new PDP Laban Party President.

In his post, Go also cited a reminder from former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague:

“Unahin mo ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino at hindi ka magkakamali.” (Put the welfare of the Filipino people first, and you will not go wrong.)

The VP's overseas travel

Malacañang previously approved the Vice President’s travel authority covering the period from July 16 to 31, 2026. Her broad itinerary includes stops in Qatar, Germany, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and the Netherlands.

In a statement, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) noted:

“The trip includes a stop in Qatar, participation in a forum and a Filipino community (FilCom) event in the United Kingdom, as well as in The Netherlands. These activities are intended to engage with overseas Filipinos and advance the Philippines’ interests abroad.”

The OVP emphasized that the trip combines both official engagements and personal travel, noting that no government funds are being utilized for her travel.

Ongoing impeachment trial

Duterte’s overseas trip comes while she faces an active impeachment trial in the Philippine Senate.

On May 11, 2026, the House of Representatives voted 257–25 to adopt four Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President, transmitting the case to the Senate for trial:

Article I: Alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds across the Office of the Vice President (₱500M) and the Department of Education (₱112.5M).

Article II: Alleged unexplained wealth, discrepancies in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) from 2022 to 2024, and failure to divest from business interests.

Article III: Alleged procurement irregularities and bribery during her tenure as Secretary of the Department of Education.

Article IV: Alleged grave threats and inciting to sedition stemming from public comments made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

-Veronica Pulumbarit/Paraluman News