As political alignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2028 elections, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson emphasized Thursday that corruption remains the country’s most pressing leadership challenge.
Lacson, a longtime anti-corruption advocate whose Senate term will end in 2031, said he remains hopeful that the nation will move toward a better future despite the political maneuvering already underway.
“Being in the twilight of my public service career which ends on June 30, 2031, I can only hope for the best to happen to our country in the decades to come. I believe corruption is the biggest stumbling block in achieving economic progress and development that our people rightly deserve,” Lacson said.
His remarks came a day after Vice President Sara Duterte publicly declared her intention to run for president in 2028.
Meanwhile, the so-called “united opposition” has announced that it will reveal before the end of the year the candidates it plans to field in the 2028 polls.
Lacson underscored that seeking public office is a constitutional right, expressing respect for Duterte’s early declaration and for anyone else who may decide to enter the race.
“It is the right of every Filipino who is qualified under the Constitution to run for an elective public office. I am sure VP Sara Duterte and her advisers have their reasons for declaring early. I can only wish her good luck in her bid and will pray for her intentions and whoever else will decide to run to lead our country in 2028-2034,” he said.