Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, May 21 said she is open to the possibility of becoming the standard bearer of the opposition bloc for the 2028 presidential elections. 

According to Hontiveros, there will certainly be a progressive or reformist alternative that the opposition would field in the next elections that would run against the candidate to be endorsed by those in the so-called Duterte bloc or those in the Marcos bloc. 

And she is “open to all possibilities," the senator said.

“I'm not saying no. I'm open to all possibilities. And that is what I am asking of all those in the opposition or independent bloc, that we be open to all possibilities and to each other, for the sake of the opposition and for the sake of our countrymen,” she further said. 

“So at least there is a third slate, at least a third candidate. I still don’t know who they are. Because that would be part of the selection process that I’m hoping we can design after the first nine months of unifying our own force,” Hontiveros said. 

In the next nine months, Hontiveros said the opposition’s priority is to unify first with those who worked with them during the May 2025 campaign and to build a level of confidence and trust in each other. 

“When we do that homework, that's the solid core from which we can further expand or explore,” she disclosed.