Nestor Archival welcomed Vice President Sara Duterte’s plan to run for president in 2028 but stressed that Cebu City’s attention remains on delivering services and day-to-day governance.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, February 19, Archival said the announcement did not come as a surprise.
“Wala ra man kaayo koy kuan sa pagkakaron kay, well, kahibaw na man gyud ta kinsay possible managan. So nigawas na lang gyud si Vice President,” he said.
While recognizing the significance of Duterte’s declaration, the mayor avoided discussing national political alignments.
“Diri sa Cebu, wala pa man kaayo mi focus sa akong tan-aw. Wala ra ko. Magkaguliyang, maapil ta sa problema,” he added.
Asked if he expected Duterte to run, Archival replied, “Yes, yes, makita man gyud na nimo sa mga balita.”
He also said he welcomes her candidacy, noting that more contenders give voters broader choices.
“Yes, of course. Labing daghan, labing maayo kay makapili man ta,” he said.
Duterte’s announcement comes amid tensions with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and with impeachment complaints still pending before the House of Representatives.
Malacañang, through Palace press officer Claire Castro, responded with a brief “Good luck.”
Cebu City, which has hundreds of thousands of registered voters and remains a closely watched political battleground, often draws attention to the positions of its local leaders during major national developments.
Archival maintained that despite the unfolding political landscape, the city government’s priority is to stay focused on its work and avoid being drawn into early political maneuvering. (LLP)
