Metro Manila, Philippines – As Vice President Sara Duterte firmed up her 2028 presidential bid, an ally floated Senator Imee Marcos as potential running mate, while the opposition is taking its time in deciding on its candidates.
“‘Yun ang VP ko oh, si Imee,” Senator Robin Padilla said in a chance interview with reporters on Wednesday, Feb. 18, pointing to Marcos who was headed to the session hall.
Padilla responded to a question on whether he was open as Duterte’s running mate.
He clarified, however, that a Sara-Imee tandem for 2028 has not been formally discussed within his party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), the party of Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Pagka umiikot ako sa ibang bansa, ‘yun lagi sinasabi ko gusto ko talaga Sara-Imee. Reconciliation ako e,” Padilla added.
[Translation: Whenever I travel to other countries, that’s what I always say – I really want Sara-mee. I’m for reconciliation.]
Marcos remains a staunch ally of Duterte despite the vice president’s falling out with her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Asked about Padilla’s remark, Marcos gave mixed responses.
“Si Robin talaga. Well, kung sa bagay talaga namang forever running mate ko naman talaga ‘yan. Takbo, gapang, luhod, patayo, paupo hindi ko naman siya kailanman iniwanan,” she said.
[Translation: Robin, really. Well, if you think about it, she really has always been my forever running mate. Running, crawling, kneeling, standing up, sitting down – I have never left her side.]
“Basta sunud-sunuran ako doon [I just follow her lead],” she added.
However, when pressed to clarify whether she is running for vice president, Marcos made a face and said, “No.”
Opposition bets
In a separate press conference earlier in the day, Senate Deputy Majority Leader and opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said the focus remains on forging a strong and united opposition for the 2028 presidential elections.
She said Duterte’s early announcement does not affect the opposition target to name candidates by the first quarter of 2027.
“Ang masasabi ko lang, sa ngayon, 2026, nakatutok ang mga reform-minded at opposition forces sa pagbubuo ng mas mahigpit pang pagkakaisa para pumili ng aming mga kandidato whether by the end of the year or first quarter of next year,” Hontiveros said.
[Translation: All I can say is that for now, in 2026, reform-minded and opposition forces are focused on forging even stronger unity in order to choose our candidates – whether by the end of the year or in the first quarter of next year.]
Her statement was in response to perceived infighting within their ranks after former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV called out Senator Bam Aquino’s remark that alleged extrajudicial killing cases should “ideally” be tried in local courts.
Hontiveros declined to comment directly on the issue but emphasized that she considers Trillanes and his party, Partido Magdalo, as allies and part of the opposition.
