Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said she is working to bring together different political groups to form what she described as the “most winnable” unified slate for the 2028 national and local elections.
“My plans that I’m implementing right now are to work on unifying the opposition para mag-rally around kami sa strongest, most popular, most winnable possible slate namin of candidates for 2028,” Hontiveros said. She emphasized that the effort extends beyond the usual KakamPink base, as broader cooperation will be necessary for any slate aiming to win in 2028.
Hontiveros, who is term-limited in 2028, said she remains open to pursuing higher office, including a possible presidential or vice-presidential run. She encouraged other figures to keep their options open as well, noting that a unified front must be prepared to field the strongest candidates available.
“These are the forces na I’m really working with to hopefully unify the opposition and beyond, hindi lang ‘yung mga Kakampinks, plus-plus talaga ang kailangang magkaisa para lumaban at para manalo,” she said.
In a Facebook post on November 21, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan urged supporters to convince Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo to reconsider her decision not to run for president in 2028. He cited unresolved corruption issues, including the flood control controversy, saying: “Saan tayo patungo? Ano kaya ang solusyon sa gulo? Magulo nga sa ngayon. At sa gulo ng sitwasyon sa bansa ngayon, dapat lang na ang panawagan ay ikulong ang mga kurakot!”
Pangilinan also commented on online calls for President Bongbong Marcos to resign, stating that he favored a collective effort to persuade Robredo to run instead. “Mas gugustuhin ko na ang panawagan na kumbinsihin natin lahat si Leni na magbago ng isip, tumakbo muli bilang Pangulo sa susunod na halalan at sama sama natin idalangin na pumayag sya para sa bayan, para sa tapat at totoong pamumuno,” he said.
Robredo and Pangilinan both ran for president and vice president in 2022. They returned to political office in 2025, with Robredo becoming the first female mayor of Naga City and Pangilinan making his Senate comeback.
When Robredo filed her certificate of candidacy for mayor in 2024, she said it would be “unfair” to her constituents if she treated the position as preparation for another national campaign. “Hindi ako magiging effective mayor kung ang iniisip ko lang ay ‘yung 2028,” she said.
For now, Hontiveros said her priority is to strengthen alliances and bring together a wider set of groups to form what she calls the “strongest, most winnable” unified slate for Halalan 2028.
