Aquino, Hontiveros Open To Run For President In 2028, But Robredo Still Most Winnable Bet?

Senators Bam Aquino and Risa Hontiveros are open to run for president in 2028 under the united opposition though former vice president and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo is still the most winnable candidate, according to her supporters.

“Both are open but they have to go around and gauge the sentiment of our people. The reason: the political terrain is very different from 2022. With so many political developments taking place – the budget plunder crisis, the impeachment cases filed, the surprising results in the 2025 midterms – it is hard to predict what will happen in 2028,” former budget secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, a Liberal Party stalwart, Abad told The Philippine STAR/OneNews.PH on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Abad made the statement following a “reunion” he attended with Hontiveros, Aquino, Robredo, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, former Senate president Franklin Drilon, Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno and Mamamayang Liberal or ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima recently.

Abad disclosed that Robredo is no longer interested to run for president, as she has been stating publicly, having lost to Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2022, with Pangilinan as her running mate who was defeated by Vice President Sara Duterte. Impeachment cases were filed against Marcos and Duterte, but the House of Representatives already junked the complaints against the Chief Executive.

“You have the momentum from the 2025 midterm (elections) that brought the opposition back to life,” Abad said, apparently referring to the surprise of Aquino and Pangilinan in the senatorial polls.

“Many more things can happen, which makes 2028 hard to predict. Is (Robredo) willing to reconsider (running in 2028)? Right now, no. In the future? I do not know,” Abad told News 5.

‘Gumagalaw’

Former Ifugao representative Teodoro “Teddy” Baguilat Jr. said in an interview with “Sa Totoo Lang” on Tuesday that Robredo and Pangilinan’s possible 2028 run remains in the “conversations” as he revealed that the camps of Aquino and Hontiveros have started “seriously” working for the upcoming polls.

Baguilat clarified that Aquino and Hontiveros have not been personally discussing their plans with them. But Hontiveros has been saying that she is open and willing to run for president if chosen by the united opposition.

“Of course, sa ngayon, parang lumalabas na ang seryoso, gumagalaw ay si Senator Bam at Senator Risa, pero kasama naman sa conversations si Leni at si Senator Kiko,” Baguilat, also an LP leader, bared.

Aquino has his Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino party while Hontiveros is a leader of Akbayan. Robredo and Pangilinan are LP leaders though Robredo ran as independent in 2022 and used color pink instead of yellow during her campaign.

“I think their forces are mobilizing because whatever is going to be the decision, ang napagkaisahan naman, we have to decide, that’s the united opposition, has to decide very early unlike in the last presidential elections na medyo late na talaga nag-decision si Leni Robredo,” Baguilat added.

Baguilat noted that many of the Kakampinks still believe that Robredo will be the ideal and strongest candidate for the opposition, “otherwise,” Aquino and Hontiveros are the ones who “are quite serious in terms of mobilizing for 2028.”

He said whoever would run for president and vice president is still subject to discussions.

Unlike in 2022 Baguilat said preparations for the next polls must really start early.

“I think, it has to be this year. The (earlier), the better,” Baguilat stressed.

Whether they will enter into an alliance with the Marcos administration is not yet tackled, Baguilat said.

Change of mind

In an ambush interview earlier on Tuesday, De Lima said “we’re not losing hope” that Robredo will change her mind and run again in 2028.

“For me, she’s the most winnable among the possible or potential opposition candidates,” De Lima, who is current LP chairman, said.

According to De Lima, those who did not vote for Robredo in 2022 will now have an opportunity to reflect, considering what’s happening today with the economy and the overall state of the country.

De Lima added that Robredo’s advocacy for “clean and good governance” is crucial to significantly reducing corruption in the country. While corruption may not be completely eliminated, she said it could be substantially curtailed under a president with a proven track record of implementing such measures.

LP president Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III earlier said the party has already started preparing for the 2028 elections and is working to unite other democratic groups. He added that choosing the best candidates, especially with Duterte as a possible contender, will take time and discussion.

‘Really the best’

Actress Nadine Lustre also openly expressed her support for Robredo, should the former vice president pursue a 2028 presidential bid.

“Why? I mean, for me, she's really the best. She's really the best candidate for the presidency, so obviously. I supported her way, way back when she ran the first time. So, definitely, I would support her again,” Lustre said during an ambush interview at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Tuesday.

Lustre accompanied De Lima who filed two bills and a resolution aimed at promoting public health, environmental protection, and animal welfare, in collaboration with advocates from across the country.

“Let’s see. Well that's up to her decision you know obviously we respect that…Sometimes the best presidents are those that don’t wanna run. So let’s see, we’ll cross the bridge na lang once we get there cause right now it's really hard to say,” she said.

Lustre was one of the celebrities who campaigned for Robredo during the 2022 presidential elections. – Aurea Calica