A potential political alliance between former Vice President and current Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and Senator Raffy Tulfo could mount a formidable challenge against the Duterte camp in the 2028 presidential race, according to political analyst and Pulse Asia President Ronald Holmes.
In an interview following the release of a voter preference survey commissioned by the office of Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Holmes noted that while discussions of a “Leni-Raffy” coalition are preliminary, such a partnership carries significant electoral weight.
“But equally popular, that will garner significant support from those who are expressing support for both of them,” Holmes explained.
THE RISK OF A VOTE SPLIT
However, Holmes warned that if both Robredo and Tulfo decide to launch separate, competing presidential campaigns, it could inadvertently solidify an advantage for Vice President Sara Duterte by fracturing the non-Duterte vote.
“It’s the opposite if they ran against each other… if it becomes a three-way competition, Senator Raffy Tulfo and former Vice President Leni Robredo run for the presidency together with Sara Duterte, that will split, most probably, the support of both—former Vice President Leni and Senator Raffy,” Holmes added.
Strategically, Holmes emphasized that a consolidated Robredo-Tulfo ticket could solidify dominance across the National Capital Region (NCR) and the rest of Luzon, which collectively represent nearly half of the country’s total registered voting population.
CURRENT STATEMENTS ON 2028
Despite the statistical projections, both political figures have consistently expressed a lack of interest in seeking higher national office:
- Leni Robredo has maintained that her immediate priority is local governance, indicating her intention to run for a second consecutive term as mayor of Naga City.
- Raffy Tulfo has similarly downplayed national ambitions, stating that he intends to focus on a re-election bid to secure a second term in the Senate.
- Sara Duterte, meanwhile, formally confirmed her intention to run for the presidency during an announcement in February.
The analytical insights follow the latest Pulse Asia poll, which positions Duterte at the front of the pack with 43% preference, followed by Robredo at 27% and Tulfo at 19%.