Robin Padilla open to run as Sara Duterte's VP if asked by Rodrigo

Senator Robin Padilla said Friday that he will only run for a higher post in the 2028 national elections, possibly as running mate of Vice President Sara Duterte, if he is told to do so by former president Rodrigo Duterte. 

Padilla, a known ally of the Duterte family, made the statement days after floating the possibility of a Sara Duterte-Imee Marcos tandem, which he branded as "girl power."

He said he will abide by whatever directions the former president gives regarding the 2028 polls, emphasizing that he owes his political career to the latter. 

“Eh ‘pag utos ni Digong. Walang pwedeng mag-utos sa akin kahit sino, si Digong lang. Kasi ayaw ko talaga ng pulitika… Basta sinabi ni Digong, susunod ako,” the senator said in a Zoom interview when asked if he is open for a Duterte-Padilla tandem for 2028. 

(As long as Digong orders it. No one can order me aside from him. Because I really don't want politics... As long as Digong says it, I will follow it.)

Padilla, however, reiterated that he is still pushing for Senator Imee Marcos to be the running mate of Sara Duterte, describing the lady senator as the “most senior member” of the so-called Duterte bloc in the Senate. 

“Bago mapunta sa akin ‘yan, syempre uunahin natin ang mga tunay na politiko na talaga. Una diyan ay si Manang Imee Marcos, pangalawa ay si Senator Alan Cayetano, susunod ay si Senator Bong Go, ang susunod diyan ay si Senator Bato [dela Rosa]. Merong hierarchy ‘yan eh, hindi pupuwedeng na ako kaagad kasi ako'y bago lang dito sa pulitika,” he explained. 

(Before the support for vice presidency goes to me, of course, we have to prioritize the real politicians first. Manang Imee Marcos is the leading, followed by Sen. Alan Cayetano, then Sen. Bong Go, and Sen. Bato. There is a hierarchy. I shouldn’t come first because I'm just new in politics.) 

Nevertheless, Padilla said that he is ready to serve in a higher position, in case he runs and wins the upcoming polls. 

“Pinanganak po tayong ready. Lalo na ‘yan, para sa akin ang vice president, hindi masyadong ano ‘yan… Puro advocacy lang ‘yan eh. Parang ikaw ang spare tire, di’ba? Kayang kaya ‘yan,” he said.

(I was born ready. I believe that the job of the vice president is not too much... It's just about advocacies. It's like you're the spare tire, right? I can really do that.) 

VP Duterte on Wednesday formally announced her plans to run for president in the 2028 elections.—LDF, GMA Integrated News