2028 elections: Opposition advised to distance from administration

The opposition must be careful with making ties with the administration amid the preparations for the 2028 national elections, a lawmaker said on Wednesday. 

Caloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice said that the members of the opposition must not be tied to the corruption allegations on the side of the administration. 

“Dapat magkaisa kaming oposisyon na labanan silang dalawa [Marcos and Duterte]. Kung sasama kami sa administrasyon, eh di kasama kami sa korapsyon. Nakakadiri,” he said in a chance interview. 

(The opposition must unite to fight both of them. If we join the administration, then we become part of the corruption. It’s disgusting.) 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said that his visit to Naga City was not political but part of public service amid rumors that former vice president and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo is being considered to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections.

The meeting between Marcos and Robredo also happened after Vice President Sara Duterte announced his candidacy for president in the national elections two years from now. 

Duterte said then that she’s sorry for helping Marcos win in 2022. 

“Dapat paghandaan muna ng opposition na 'wag kaming sasama sa administration. kapag sumama kami sa administration, ang magiging opposition ay si Vice President Sara. Eh dapat sila ang magkasama [ni Marcos], sila ang gumawa ng gulo,” said Erice. 

(The opposition should first prepare to ensure we don't align with the administration. If we join the administration, Vice President Sara will become the [sole] opposition. But they [Marcos and Duterte] should be together—they are the ones who created this mess.) 

When asked if who could be the opposition’s flag bearer in 2028, Erice said: “Sa tingin si Vice President Leni pa rin ang pinakamalakas na kandidato ng oposisyon, wag lang didikit sa Marcos.” 

(In my view, Vice President Leni is still the strongest candidate for the opposition, as long as she doesn't associate with Marcos.) —LDF, GMA Integrated News