Pressure is mounting on former Vice President and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo to run for president in 2028, according to political analyst SunStar Wenceslao. Writing on June 29, 2026, Wenceslao argued that if liberals and progressives want to counter efforts to make Vice President Sara Duterte the country's next leader, Robredo should consider entering the race.
Robredo leads surveys, but opposition must unite
Wenceslao noted that surveys consistently place Robredo above all other potential candidates as the most viable presidential bet for 2028. However, he stressed that for the opposition to win, it must field a single candidate. While Senator Risa Hontiveros has drawn support from her own backers, Wenceslao believes Hontiveros does not yet perform well in surveys, though that could change if she becomes the unified opposition candidate should Robredo decline to run.
Hontiveros is a viable option, Wenceslao said, because among progressives, she and her supporters understand how elections work under a liberal democratic setup. He admitted that in his younger, more radical days, he preferred militant figures over moderates, but he has remained friendly with Hontiveros supporters.
Militants and moderates finding common ground
Wenceslao observed that the dynamics between militant groups like Bayan Muna and moderates like Hontiveros' Akbayan have evolved over time. In the legislature, differences have minimized, leading to a broader, less ideologically driven unified front in the House of Representatives. This unity, he argued, explains why destabilization efforts against President Bongbong Marcos have failed so far.
Attempts to link Marcos to scandals, such as allegations by supposed bodyguards of Zaldy Co that they delivered money to known personalities, have not gained traction. Even the alleged flood control scandal has failed to mobilize public outrage. According to Wenceslao, no major polarization of forces has emerged under a government led by a Marcos, despite the breakdown of the alliance between Marcos and the Dutertes.
Marcos neutralizes opposition, sends Duterte to The Hague
Instead of destabilization succeeding, Marcos has managed to minimize the opposition's power by sending former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague. This move, Wenceslao noted, has effectively neutralized a key opposition figure. The analyst concluded that without a unified opposition candidate, the chances of defeating Sara Duterte in 2028 remain slim.
