In a significant political development, lawyer Israelito Torreon has publicly endorsed a potential 2028 presidential tandem featuring Vice President Sara Duterte and her younger brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte. Torreon described this possible pairing as a choice "for the good of the nation" during early discussions about the upcoming elections, even though no official candidacies have been declared yet.
Emphasis on Electoral Reforms
Torreon paired his endorsement with a strong call for comprehensive electoral reforms, emphasizing that leadership choices must be accompanied by credible and transparent election processes. He specifically urged the full implementation of Section 31 of Republic Act No. 9369, which mandates manual vote counting at the precinct level alongside electronic transmission of results.
Hybrid System for Public Trust
According to Torreon, this hybrid system would significantly strengthen public trust by ensuring that ballots are physically read and verified in the presence of election watchers before being transmitted digitally. He explained that this approach would create a clearer audit trail per precinct and address long-standing concerns about discrepancies between actual votes cast and reported results.
"Even a strong Duterte-Duterte tandem could see votes miscounted if Section 31 isn't fully implemented," Torreon warned, citing lingering concerns following the 2025 midterm elections. He noted that the lack of visible, precinct-level verification has fueled skepticism among some voters about election integrity.
Accountability for Election Officials
Torreon also called for accountability among officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) who he alleges are resisting the implementation of election laws. He suggested possible congressional inquiries or Senate Blue Ribbon Committee proceedings to examine claims of mismanagement or non-compliance within the election commission.
Beyond Political Preferences
The lawyer urged voters to look beyond their political preferences and consider institutional reforms, emphasizing that the credibility of future elections depends on both leadership quality and the systems used to count and report votes. His remarks highlight key issues shaping early 2028 political discourse: support for a Duterte-led tandem, the push for manual precinct-level vote counting, and calls for accountability among election officials.
Family Moment Captured
The political discussion comes as a heartwarming moment between the Duterte siblings was recently captured during the Parada Dabawenyo in their hometown on March 28, 2026. Vice President Sara Duterte and Mayor Sebastian Duterte shared a tight embrace upon the latter's arrival at the event, showcasing their close family bond amid growing political speculation about their potential 2028 partnership.
As political conversations intensify ahead of the polls, Torreon stressed that safeguarding transparency and maintaining voter confidence must remain a national priority. He emphasized that electoral reforms are essential regardless of which candidates ultimately run, as the integrity of the democratic process depends on systems that voters can trust completely.
