Despite Vice President Sara Duterte’s announcement of her intention to run for president in 2028, uncertainty surrounds who will be her running mate, as divisions emerge within the Duterte camp.
Senator Robin Padilla recently suggested that he envisions Senator Imee Marcos — sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Duterte’s former ally — as a possible partner for the vice president.
Meanwhile, singer-lawyer Jimmy Bondoc, who ran for Senate in 2025, sees Padilla himself as the ideal running mate for Duterte in 2028.
Earlier, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta was mentioned by Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) Secretary General Anthony del Rosario as a potential candidate for Duterte’s tandem. Both Padilla and Marcoleta, however, have denied any plans to run for vice president.
It also remains unclear whether the Duterte camp is considering Senator Bong Go — former Special Assistant to the President under Rodrigo Duterte and currently leading pre-election surveys for vice president — as VP Sara’s running mate for 2028.
The lack of clarity underscores the fluidity of political alignments as the 2028 elections draw closer, with Duterte’s camp still weighing possible partnerships amid shifting alliances.