Bam Aquino on 2028 plans: Let's work first

Senator Bam Aquino on Wednesday distanced himself from speculations about the 2028 national elections, saying that he will prioritize his work first as a lawmaker. 

Aquino, who just made a successful Senate comeback in 2025, said that before politics, he would like to focus on legislative work that will help address problems in the education sector, push for good governance, and address corruption. 

“Nakakahiyang mamulitika kung napakaraming trabahong kailangan gawin. Ako personally, kakabalik ko pa lang sa Senate, ha? Isipin mo, wala pang one year. Ang nais talaga namin gawin, magtrabaho para sa bayan at palagay ko, ‘yun rin ‘yung hinahanap sa akin ng (taumbayan),” Aquino said in an interview on Unang Hirit’s On Record segment. 

(It's embarrassing to talk about politics when there is so much work to be done. I just returned to the Senate. It hasn’t even been a year yet. What we really want to do is work for the people and I think that's what the people are also looking for from me.) 

“‘Yung pamumulitika, may tamang panahon ‘yan, and there will be a natural timing for that. Ngayong 2026, wala pang one year mula nung nakarang eleksyon, trabaho muna tayo,” he added. 

(There is a right time for politics and there will be a natural timing for that. This 2026, since it’s been just less than a year since the last election, let's work first.) 

Asked if he is considering running for a higher post in 2028, Aquino said, “Napag-uusapan lang siya dahil ‘yung media ‘yung lagi nagtatanong. Pero kung ako lang masusunod, let's work hard, let’s work first.”

(It’s only being talked about because the media is always asking questions. But if I would be the one to decide, let's work hard, let's work first.) 

Last week, Aquino said he will not run for vice president in the 2028 national elections.

He said this in response to a post which floated if he will be Vice President Sara Duterte’s running mate in the upcoming polls. 

Sara Duterte has formally announced her plans to seek the presidency in the 2028 elections.

For Aquino, any political alliance must be an alliance that would prioritize the needs of the people. 

“The minority, the majority, kaalyado ng administrasyon, kaalyado ni [former] president Duterte, mga independent gaya ko, nagkakaisa kami sa mga bagay na mahalaga para sa taong bayan. And I think ‘yung ganyang klaseng alyansa, ‘yan ‘yung hinahanap ng tao,” he said. 

(Whether you are in the minority, the majority, an ally of the administration, an ally of former president Duterte, an independent like me, we should be united in things that are important for the people. And I think the people are looking for that kind of alliance.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News