Former Vice President and current Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, alongside Senator Raffy Tulfo, are emerging as the strongest potential challengers to Vice President Sara Duterte in the 2028 presidential race—provided Duterte survives her looming Senate impeachment trial.
This assessment was shared by former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers during a television interview, where he analyzed early polling data ahead of the race to succeed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Based on the recent surveys, Raffy Tulfo is a formidable opponent. Leni Robredo is also a formidable opponent,” Barbers said.
While early survey trends position both figures as major political forces, both Tulfo and Robredo have publicly distanced themselves from any presidential ambitions.
Tulfo previously declared his intention to seek reelection in the Senate, while Robredo has consistently maintained that her priority is serving her constituents in Naga City.
Despite their current refusals, Barbers emphasized that the political environment is fluid and highly unpredictable.
“By the time of 2028, the environment will change. You will see who is strong and who is weak as we come close to the date of the election,” he noted.
Barbers floated the names of the two political heavyweights when questioned about who could realistically challenge Duterte, assuming she is acquitted by the Senate and maintains her eligibility to run for the highest office in the land.
Addressing the skepticism surrounding the accuracy of public opinion polls, the former lawmaker defended their utility as a primary gauge of political strength in the absence of other metrics.
“It doesn’t mean that I believe in the completeness of surveys. What I’m saying is that in the absence of real data… if that’s what we’re going to base it on, there are formidable opponents,” Barbers explained.