Could former political rivals become unexpected allies in 2028?
This is the question circulating in political circles amid speculation that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. might consider endorsing former Vice President and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo should she decide to run for president in the 2028 national elections.
According to sources, while the Marcos administration still hopes to field its own presidential candidate, it remains open to forming a tactical alliance with Robredo’s camp—should such a coalition serve the administration’s strategic interests.
In the event the alliance with Robredo does not materialize, three names are reportedly being considered as potential administration candidates: former Cavite Governor and DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, former DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos (who recently failed to secure a Senate seat in the 2025 elections), and Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro, a presidential contender in 2010.
Talks of a possible alliance began to surface after Robredo and Marcos shared a brief but symbolic handshake during the inauguration of the Sorsogon Sports Arena on October 17, 2024.
Marcos and Robredo were fierce rivals in the 2016 vice-presidential race, with Robredo narrowly defeating Marcos by 263,473 votes—a result that led to an electoral protest filed by Marcos, which was eventually dismissed by the Supreme Court.
In 2022, the rivalry resumed in the presidential race, where Marcos won by a landslide margin of over 16.5 million votes.
As political strategies begin to shape the landscape for 2028, the potential for a Marcos-Robredo alliance—once unthinkable—has now become a subject of serious speculation.