Speculation about a possible 2028 Quezon City mayoral bid by television host Willie Revillame, with broadcaster Ben Tulfo as his potential vice mayoral running mate, has sparked interest in the upcoming leadership race in the country’s highest-earning city government.
The rumors gained traction after reports by Abante TNT and Politiko raised the possibility of the tandem, followed by the circulation of an image showing Revillame paired with Tulfo, further fueling talk of their possible entry into the next elections.
Incumbent Mayor Joy Belmonte and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto secured their third consecutive terms in 2025. Both are constitutionally barred from immediately running for a fourth consecutive term in their respective positions.
Quezon City topped all Philippine cities in 2025 revenues, generating more than ₱34.9 billion, according to the Commission on Audit. The COA had also previously named it the country’s wealthiest local government in terms of assets, reporting ₱448.509 billion as of the end of 2023.
The Belmonte family has maintained a longstanding presence in Quezon City politics. Joy’s father, former House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., served as the city’s mayor from 2001 to 2010, while she held the vice mayoralty from 2010 until she assumed the mayor’s office in 2019.
Both Revillame and Tulfo ran as independent candidates in the 2025 Senate elections. Tulfo placed 13th with 12,090,090 votes, finishing just outside the winning 12, while Revillame ranked 22nd with 8,568,924 votes.
Revillame had also been floated as a potential Quezon City mayoral candidate ahead of the 2019 elections, but ultimately did not run. Tulfo, meanwhile, is widely known for hosting the investigative television program “Bitag,” while his nephew Ralph Tulfo currently represents Quezon City’s second congressional district.
