Marcos: Talks Underway For Possible Successor

The administration is already talking to potential candidates for the presidency in 2028, President Marcos revealed on Tuesday, Feb. 24, as speculations intensified on the possible alliances shaping up for the next elections.

Marcos said the next president should be someone who “understands economics,” a nation-builder who “wants to make the Philippines better,” and a leader who is competent, who listens to experts and who loves the country.

When asked whether he has narrowed down the possible candidates for president to about to two or three based on the qualifications he mentioned, Marcos replied: “We have some people that we are talking to.”

Marcos did not mention names, although he noted that it would be more difficult to field someone with no experience in politics.

“When people are working, you cannot limit yourself to (the) government. But of course, it‘s much harder to bring to a presidential level someone who has not been involved in politics, ever. It happens, but it’s not that easy, especially in the highly political atmosphere that we have here in the Philippines,” the President said at the ASEAN Editors and Economic Opinion Leaders Forum in Makati.

“It’s not that they don’t like the person; they just don’t know who they are. And to build that up to a presidential level is quite difficult. So you look at people in government and you see who is doing well, who is exceptional. And we have, I’m glad to say, exceptional people in government,” he added.

Although people are already talking about the 2028 presidential race, Marcos said he won’t be endorsing a candidate anytime soon.

“Not soon. The timing is everything,” the Chief Executive stressed.

Marcos made the remark nearly a week after his former running mate-turned-arch critic Vice President Sara Duterte announced her plan to seek the presidency in the 2028 polls.

Duterte, who was part of the Marcos Cabinet for more than two years but resigned following the souring of relations with the President, also disclosed on Monday that she has already recruited a candidate for vice president.

Duterte has apologized to voters for supporting the candidacy of Marcos, whom she criticized for allegedly failing to fulfill his promises and to address corruption and other problems hounding the country.

Malacañang wished the Vice President luck on her political plans, but insisted that she apologize for the procurement controversies that rocked the education department when she was its secretary and for supposedly spreading “fake news” about the administration, among other issues.

The relationship between Marcos and Duterte further deteriorated when the administration surrendered the Vice President’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) last year.

Meanwhile, Marcos’ recent public engagements prompted more tongue-wagging about the 2028 elections as they involved interactions with his erstwhile rival, former vice president and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo. The two were recently together in three public events.

‘A like-minded president’

Marcos also highlighted the importance of political stability during the ASEAN Editors and Economic Opinion Leaders Forum as he vowed to undertake structural changes to make the Philippines more conducive to investments. He said the tendency of incumbent officials to criticize the initiatives of previous leaders poses a problem.

“The wonderful thing about being in the opposition is you don’t actually have to get anything to work. All you have to do is criticize. All you have to do is pull your opponent down. And that’s the problem that we face. We have to really educate people on what we are trying to do,” Marcos said.

“That’s not what I’m here for. I’m here to do these structural changes so that the Philippines becomes more investment-friendly. And we are starting to feel the effects of that, the beneficial effects of that,” he noted.

Marcos said all the beneficial effects of existing programs would “just go by the wayside” if Filipinos “do not elect a like-minded president in 2028.”

‘Beauty parlor tale’

In a related development, Malacañang denied the claim of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque that Marcos wants to reconcile with Duterte.

“It’s another lie. They should be thinking of service before politicking. That’s the problem with the Vice President. She believes in the beauty parlor tales of Harry Roque even if he is a source of fake news,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a text message.

“She is really an unusual public servant. She does not provide help and she engages in badmouthing,” she added.

Castro went on to accuse Roque of fabricating tales “to remain relevant.”

On Duterte’s confirmation of a running mate for 2028, Castro said it is the Vice President’s decision.

“She really needs to find a partner – a partner who will really work. A vice president who works,” Castro told News5.

Impeachment’s impact

For House justice committee chair and Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville Luistro, the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President may shape how Filipinos decide in the 2028 polls.

“Of course, of course (it will affect) because here in our proceedings, the grounds will be discussed, which are issues being imputed, imputed against the Vice President. So, I think it’s possible that the judgment of the Filipino people on how they’re going to decide for the next presidential election will be affected,” she told reporters on Tuesday.

According to Roque, Duterte’s early declaration of her presidential bid for 2028 serves as a warning for lawmakers.

“I think the message of VP Sara, although it will not help in the release of Tatay Digong (Rodrigo Duterte), is a notice to the congressmen that as the strongest candidate for president, they should think about whether they want to fight the next president of the Philippines,” he said, seemingly confirming that Duterte’s objective all along was to threaten the House.

In a related development, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla brushed off inquiries about a possible presidential bid for 2028.

“Let’s not go there. You know all of these will take care of itself,” he told reporters at a news briefing on Tuesday. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Helen Flores, Bella Cariaso, Emmanuel Tupas