MANILA – Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros said she remains open to running for president or vice president in the 2028 elections, if the united opposition chooses her as its candidate.

In a press conference, Hontiveros emphasized her willingness to take on any role that would help consolidate a strong opposition slate for the 2028 national elections.

“I remain open, I remain willing and ‘yung kondisyon ko ay ‘yung tulad nung matagal ko na rin sinasabi—kung piliin ng united opposition,” she said.
(I remain open, I remain willing and my condition is the same as what I have been saying for a long time—if the united opposition chooses me.)

“Kasi ayun din ang sinasabi ko rin nang matagal na kailangan ng oposisyon, kung lalaban kami sa 2028, ‘yun ang intention at desire ko na lalaban kami sa 2028, na mag-alok sa ating mamamayan ng pinakamalakas at credible na kandidato,” she added.
(Because that’s what I’ve been saying for a long time that what the opposition needs, if we will fight in 2028, and that’s my intention and desire that we do so, is to offer our people the strongest and most credible candidate.)

When asked if former Vice President and current Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo is still being considered as the opposition’s standard bearer, Hontiveros said individual names do not matter at this stage, as long as the opposition unites.

Hontiveros also raised the possibility that pro-Marcos groups may reach out to the opposition ahead of the elections.

“If ever lumapit, yun yung magiging subject ng matinding pag-iisip at pag-uusap sa hanay namin kasi nga, because of the very different histories,” she said.
(If they reach out to us, that will be the subject of intense deliberations and discussion, considering our very different histories.)

“Pero for anyone, hindi lang sila, other groups na sa labas ng Kakampinks o sa labas ng hanay ng oposisyon, syempre ‘yung magiging basis ng any possibility ng pag-uunite ay ‘yun, ‘yung enough common values,” she added.
(But aside from them, anyone or other groups outside the Kakampinks or the opposition, our basis of any possibility of uniting is if we have enough common values.)