MANILA — Senator Robin Padilla said that he would only seek a higher position in the 2028 national elections, potentially as running mate of Vice President Sara Duterte, if former President Rodrigo Duterte instructs him to do so.

In a report, Padilla, a known ally of the Duterte family, made the statement days after suggesting a possible Sara Duterte-Imee Marcos tandem, which he described as “girl power.”

He stressed that he would follow the former president’s guidance on the upcoming elections, citing his debt to Duterte for his political career.

“Eh ‘pag utos ni Digong. Walang pwedeng mag-utos sa akin kahit sino, si Digong lang. Kasi ayaw ko talaga ng pulitika… Basta sinabi ni Digong, susunod ako,” Padilla said in a Zoom interview when asked about a possible Duterte-Padilla tandem for 2028.
(As long as Digong orders it. No one can order me aside from him. Because I really don’t want politics… As long as Digong says it, I will follow it.)

Despite this, Padilla reiterated his support for Senator Imee Marcos to be Sara Duterte’s running mate, describing her as the “most senior member” of the Duterte bloc in the Senate.

“Bago mapunta sa akin ‘yan, syempre uunahin natin ang mga tunay na politiko na talaga. Una diyan ay si Manang Imee Marcos, pangalawa ay si Senator Alan Cayetano, susunod ay si Senator Bong Go, ang susunod diyan ay si Senator Bato [dela Rosa]. Merong hierarchy ‘yan eh, hindi pupuwedeng na ako kaagad kasi ako’y bago lang dito sa pulitika,” he said.
(Before the support for vice presidency goes to me, of course, we have to prioritize the real politicians first. Manang Imee Marcos is the leading, followed by Sen. Alan Cayetano, then Sen. Bong Go, and Sen. Bato. There is a hierarchy. I shouldn’t come first because I’m just new in politics.)

Padilla added that he is ready to serve in a higher position should he run and win.

“Pinanganak po tayong ready. Lalo na ‘yan, para sa akin ang vice president, hindi masyadong ano ‘yan… Puro advocacy lang ‘yan eh. Parang ikaw ang spare tire, di’ba? Kayang kaya ‘yan,” he said.
(I was born ready. I believe that the job of the vice president is not too much… It’s just about advocacies. It’s like you’re the spare tire, right? I can really do that.)

Vice President Duterte formally announced on Wednesday her intention to run for president in the 2028 elections.