Brothers Raffy, Erwin Tulfo won't run for higher posts in 2028

The Tulfo siblings will not run for higher posts in the 2028 national and local elections (NLE), Senator Erwin Tulfo said Tuesday.

Erwin issued his remarks following a Pulse Asia survey that pitted his brother, Raffy, against Vice President Sara Duterte as the top presidentiables in the upcoming NLE.

Raffy tied with Duterte in the presidential preference poll at 46 percentage points apiece.

"Ang gusto po ng brother ko and myself, sana po next time...'wag isama-sama yung mga pangalan po namin d'yan sa mga tatakbo (na) possible candidates, presidential, vice-presidential," Erwin told reporters.

(We, my brother and I, are asking the poll firms to exclude our names among the presidentiables and vice-presidentiables next time.)

"Ang plano lang po talaga namin, hanggang dito lang po kami sa Senado...Wala naman po talagang kaplano-plano yung kapatid ko...Or sino man po sa amin to run for higher office of 2028," he added.

(Our plan is that we will be here in the Senate. We have no plans to run for higher office in 2028.)

Erwin also said Raffy expressed worry and confusion over his inclusion in the survey.

Raffy Tulfo

In a separate interview, the older Tulfo echoed his brother's remarks and stood firm that he will not run for president in 2028 despite the survey results. He, however, raised the possibility of seeking reelection in the upcoming polls.

"I'm very happy as senator...bakit pa ako aakyat sa higher office? I don't want to commit the same mistakes that others committed. May elected officials, first term pa lang sila. And then after first term, tumatakbo ulit sila sa higher office o higher position and they failed," Raffy said.

(I'm very happy as a senator so why run for a higher office? I don't want to commit the same mistakes others have committed. Some elected officials suddenly jump to a higher office or higher position after serving their first term and fail.)

Asked about the possibility of running for vice president, Tulfo added: "Hindi rin. Hindi rin. Happy na ako as big Senator." (No.I'm happy as senator.)

The lawmaker, who is serving his first term, said he would endorse a presidential candidate who shares his advocacies.

Unified opposition

Senator Risa Hontiveros, for her part, welcomed all preferential surveys but said it "will not decide the results of the elections".

"Marami pang puwedeng mangyari pero nirerespeto ko ang survey bilang isang matulunging gabay kung paano kumilos. Pero ang huling resulta ay bunga ng gagawin namin at higit sa lahat, bunga ng magiging decision ng mga Pilipino," she said.

(A lot of things may happen before the elections. We respect the survey as it is a helpful guide for our campaign. But at the end of the day, the results of the elections will be from our efforts and based on the decision of Filipinos.)

The unified opposition may also field its candidate before the end of the year, Hontiveros added.

"The earliest, within the end of this year, puwede nating tukuyin kung sino sa amin ang pinakamataas. At ang pangarap ko at intention ay magkaisa kaming lahat para suportahan ang tao na 'yun," the senator said.

(We may field some within the end of this year, at the earliest. My dream and intention is for the unified opposition to support that candidate.)

In the same poll, results showed Dutere leading against Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo at 51 percent to 43 percent.

The Ulat ng Bayan survey conducted from February 27 to March 2 among 1,200 respondents, aged 18 years old and above. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8%. — RSJ/AOL, GMA News