The leader of the biggest opposition party in the country has floated a team-up of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio and Sen. Imee Marcos for the next presidential elections.
Sen. Robin Padilla, president of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP), said he is even willing to serve as campaign manager for the prospective “Sara-Imee” tandem in the 2028 polls.
Politicians in the Philippines routinely mention names as possible election candidates to invite public reactions and gauge acceptance.
“Robin Padilla is not a politician. In 2028, I will be the campaign manager of Inday Sara Duterte and Imee Marcos,” declared the former movie actor before a crowd of Filipinos celebrating the 127th Philippine Independence Day in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“Remember, this is our last chance. Hopefully, we can talk to our relatives in the Philippines; we can’t just be angry,” added Padilla in urging the Filipino community to unite behind the Duterte-Marcos alliance.
In the previous presidential election, the two political dynasties forged an alliance to catapult Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio to the two highest posts in the land. The so-called “BBM-Sara” tandem of 2022 was believed to be brokered by Imee, elder sister of the president.
President Marcos and Vice-president Duterte-Carpio however broke-up in early 2024, or less than two years since their team-up overwhelmingly won the vote.
Reacting to Padilla’s endorsement, Duterte-Carpio said she was surprised and partly in disbelief. “From what I understand, Sen. Padilla was only joking,” she said.
Sen. Marcos, meanwhile, has been mum on Padilla’s endorsement, fueling more speculations.
Duterte-Carpio, who heads her own political party named “Hugpong ng Pagbabago” (HNP), said she has yet to decide if she will join Padilla’s PDP, the party chaired by her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
She disclosed that her father actually invited her to join PDP when she officially broke her ties with President Marcos in June 2024. The young Duterte said she is still weighing her options.
“I’m single and ready to mingle in terms of politics, kaysa ‘yung nakatali ka sa loob ng isang grupo. So, hanggang ngayon, wala pa akong decision kung papasok ako ng PDP,” she said in a press conference in Davao City this week following the announcement that his younger brother, Mayor Sebastian Duterte, has assumed the leadership of PDP in acting capacity.
(I’m single and ready to mingle in terms of politics, rather than being tied to a group. So, until now, I have not decided whether I will join the PDP.)
“Mainly because nakita niyo naman ‘yung nangyari sa akin di ba, parang ayaw ko nang kausap ‘yung mga politiko. Lalong-lalo na kapag magkakasama kami sa isang grupo. So, wala naman, I have nothing against everyone. In general lang, sa akin, mas gusto ko yung ganito ako,” she also said.
(That’s mainly because I don’t want to engage with politicians anymore, especially when we are together in a group. I have nothing against anyone. In general, I prefer where I stand now.)
Mayor Sebastian, who takes the helm of PDP after Padilla filed a leave of absence at weekend, has no immediate response to his sister’s adamance to join the party.
