Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has officially signaled the Magdalo Group’s preference for Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros as the standard-bearer for the opposition in the 2028 presidential elections.
Speaking to reporters at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 22, Trillanes disclosed that his group has finished vetting prospective candidates and has found Hontiveros to be the most qualified to lead the charge.
The ‘Fighter’ Distinction
Trillanes, who was at the Batasang Pambansa for a Justice Committee hearing regarding impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, drew a sharp distinction between Hontiveros and former Vice President Leni Robredo.
While acknowledging that both women are exemplary public servants, Trillanes highlighted a fundamental difference in their perceived political roles:
“Yung grupo namin, yung Magdalo, nakilatis na namin yung mga prospective [candidates]. Ngayon, ang nais naming itulak sa pagpa-presidente ay si Senator Risa Hontiveros. So nasa sa kanya yung kuwalipikasyon at talagang tumitindig, lumalaban. Kumbaga ipaglalaban ka ni Senator Risa.”
When pressed to compare the Senator with the current Naga City Mayor, Trillanes offered a concise analogy:
“Yun nga ang comparison kay Mayor Leni. Both of them are good public servants. Pero ang kaibahan nila, si Mayor Leni, ipaglalaban mo eh. Pero si Senator Risa, ipaglalaban ka.”
Consolidating the Opposition
While Hontiveros has yet to make a formal declaration, Trillanes confirmed that communication remains open, stating,
“Tuloy tuloy kaming nag-uusap [ni Sen. Risa].”
The former senator also addressed the role of Leni Robredo in the upcoming cycle.
He suggested that if the former Vice President chooses not to seek the presidency again, she should act as a kingmaker to prevent a fragmented opposition.
“Syempre, mas maganda nito…ni Mayor Leni, kung ayaw na niyang tumakbo, i-endorso na lang niya either si Senator Bam [Aquino] or si Senator Risa. Para talagang malipat sa kanila yung suporta ni Mayor Leni,” Trillanes added.
The 2028 Landscape
The early positioning of opposition figures comes as Vice President Sara Duterte remains the sole declared contender for the 2028 race.
Despite facing intense political scrutiny and ongoing impeachment discussions, the Vice President continues to maintain a significant lead in popularity ratings, posing a formidable challenge for any prospective challenger.