Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV on Wednesday, February 25 dismissed speculations he is seeking a higher position in the 2028 national elections, saying he is keen on prioritizing his work first as a lawmaker.

Sen. Bam Aquino seeks to modernize budget transparency and accountability through the use of “blockchain technology” in a bid to make the national budget publicly available, ensure accessibility, easy to understand, and open for citizen engagement. (Senate PRIB photo)

“Nakakahiyang mamulitika. Napakaraming trabaho ang kailangan gawin. Ako personally, kakabalik ko pa lang sa Senate.  Isipin mo wala pa akong one year. Ang nais talaga naming gawin, magtrabaho para sa bayan (You know it's embarrassing to be politicking. There's so much work to be done. Personally, I just returned to the Senate. Think about it, I haven't even been in office for a year. What we really want to do is work for the people),” Aquino said in an interview on Unang Hirit.

“At palagay ko iyon ang hinahanap sa akin ng taumbayan. Magtrabaho ka para sa edukasyon, isulong mo iyong mga panukala na magbibigay ng mas tapat na gobyerno mo. Gawin mo iyong lahat para iyong mga sangkot, makulong, mabalik iyong pera, mabago iyong sistema, gawin mo iyon lahat para sa taumbayan (And I think that's what the people are looking for in me. Work for education, advance your proposals that will give you a more honest government. Do everything you can so that those involved in corruption will go to jail, get your money back, change your system, do all that for the people),” the senator pointed out.

Aquino, who made a successful return to the Senate during the May 2025 elections, said he believes there is a perfect time for politics, but for now, his concentration is on his legislative work.

“There will be a natural timing for that. Ngayong 2026, wala pang one year mula noong nakaraang eleksyon, trabaho muna tayo (This 2026, less than a year since the last election, let's get to work first),” he said.

Earlier, Aquino rejected insinuations he might run as Vice President Sara Duterte’s running mate in the 2028 elections after the latter announced her presidential bid last week.

But the senator said that in terms of political alliances, it should be done with the welfare of the people in mind.

“The people now are eager to look for and ask what can you help us with? In education, in health, in food, and I think we, officials—especially since there are still two years before the next elections—we should be working on what the people need. And here, this is something we should unite around,” he stressed.