Robredo as opposition bet for 2028 polls? Bam Aquino says many want her to run

Senator Bam Aquino on Monday acknowledged calls for former vice president and incumbent Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo to run again for a national post in the 2028 elections. 

“Siyempre maraming nagnanais na tumakbo siya, but you have to ask her also kung anong plano niya,” Aquino said in an ambush interview when asked if Robredo is being considered as the opposition's candidate for the 2028 national polls. 

(Of course, many want her to run, but you have to ask her also about her plans.) 

Aquino made the remark following the recent gathering of key opposition figures including him, Robredo, Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila De Lima, Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno, former senator Franklin Drilon, and former Budget secretary Butch Abad.

“It was more like a reunion, honestly. Matagal na rin kaming hindi nagkikita-kita (we haven't seen each other for a long time). It was really good na nagkita-kita kami (that we saw each other again),” the senator said.

“At siyempre, napag-usapan rin namin ‘yung mga nangyayari sa ating bansa, nangyayari rin sa iba't-iba naming mga adbokasiya. And it was nice to get to see everybody as well,” he added. 

(Of course, we also talked about what is happening in our country, what is happening in our various advocacies. And it was nice to get to see everybody as well.) 

He also said that those who were in the gathering talked about what is good for the country.

Pressed if there will be a united opposition for the 2028 elections, Aquino simply said that everyone should work together. 

“Mahalaga na merong mga ganyang moves for 2028. Mahalaga na nagsasama-sama ang iba't-ibang mga grupo, hindi lang ‘yung mga taong nasa meeting ngayon. Kailangan talagang magtulungan tayo at hindi lang para sa next election, (kundi) para ngayon. ‘Yung mga problema ng bayan ngayon napakatindi,” he said. 

(It’s important that there are such moves for 2028. It’s important that different groups come together, not just the people in the meeting today. We really need to work together, not just for the next elections, but for now. The problems of our nation today are very bad.)

In a post last Thursday, February 5, Robredo said that she had a rare lunch out with the people she “have fought many fights with.”

Robredo ran for the presidency in the 2022 elections, with Pangilinan as her running mate. —KG, GMA Integrated News