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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Robin Padilla pushes for Sara Duterte-Imee Marcos tandem in 2028

Robin Padilla pushes for Sara Duterte-Imee Marcos tandem in 2028

Published Feb 18, 2026 03:38 pm

At A Glance

  • This early, Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla expressed his desire for the two women to run in tandem in the upcoming May 2028 elections.
(From left) Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos (Raymund Antonio/MANILA BULLETIN)
(From left) Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos (Raymund Antonio/MANILA BULLETIN)

Girl power.

This early, Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla expressed his desire for the two women to run in tandem in the upcoming May 2028 elections. 

Padilla, who is a member of the Senate minority bloc, made the statement after Vice President Sara Duterte announced her plans to run for president in the 2028 elections.

The senator said he supports having Sen. Imee Marcos, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s sister, to be Duterte’s running mate.

“Panahon na para magkaroon tayo ng ‘girl power’ (It’s time that we have a ‘girl power’),” Padilla said.

“Pag nag iikot ako sa ibang bansa, yun lagi sinasabi ko, Sara-Imee; (for) reconciliation ako  (Whenever I go around in other countries, that’s what I always say that I prefer a Sara-Imee tandem; I’m for reconciliation),” he added.

Sought to comment, Marcos, in an interview, acknowledged that she had always regarded Duterte as her “forever running mate.”

“Well kung sabagay talaga namang forever runningmate ko naman talaga yan. Takbo, gapang, luhod, patayo, paupo hindi ko naman siya kailanman iniwanan (In the first place, she is forever my running mate. Whether running, crawling, kneeling, standing, sitting, I never abandoned her),” Marcos said of the vice president.

Asked if she is willing to run as Duterte’s running mate, Marcos declined to comment further.

“Hindi siya nag-announce. Hayaan mo muna siya (She didn’t announce that, so just let her be),” she said.

Marcos, nevertheless, said she is happy to hear vice president Duterte made the announcement.

“Eh maganda yan kasi mabibigyan ng pagasa lahat ng mga tao dahil napakahirap ng panahon, ang gulo gulo ng gobyerno, napaka korap , wala pa ring china-charge (That's good because it will give hope to all people because the times are so difficult, the government is in chaos, it's very corrupt, and no one is being charged yet),” she said. 

“Eh talagang ang tao galit na galit na at naghihirap kaya maganda na kahit papano meron tayong pag-asa, meron tayong pinanghahawakan (People are really angry and suffering, so it's good that at least we have hope, we have something to hold on to),” added the senator.

Related Tags

Sara Duterte Imee Marcos 2028 ELECTIONS Robin Padilla
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