Robin Padilla for President in 2028 if Duterte Faces Impeachment
ROBIN PADILLA – The senator could run for president in 2028 if Vice President Sara Duterte is disqualified from seeking public office due to an impeachment conviction, according to former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo.
Panelo, speaking on Politiko Live, explained that the plan to field Padilla as a presidential candidate already has the blessing of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Both Padilla and Duterte are members of the PDP-Laban party.
Panelo stated that if Vice President Duterte were to face imprisonment following an impeachment trial, Padilla would be the party’s candidate for president in 2028. He emphasized, “Kapag pinakulong ‘yan (Vice President Sara Duterte), ang patatakbuhin namin si Robin Padilla. ‘Pag si Robin Padilla game over. Pareho ni Inday Sara, game over din ‘yan.”
He went on to describe a conversation he had with Padilla during a recent TikTok livestream. Panelo told Padilla, “Sasabihin ko na sa ‘yo ang napag-usapan namin ni presidente… So naririnig ko siya. Speechless. Sabi ko, ‘ihanda mo na sarili mo kasi ‘pag ‘yan ang nangyari ikaw ang ilalaban namin kasi nag-usap na kami ni presidente and he agrees with me na ikaw talaga ang pwedeng pumalit kay Inday Sara.”
According to Politiko, Sara Duterte is currently facing at least two impeachment complaints in the House of Representatives. With the holiday break approaching, it’s still unclear whether the complaints will be taken up in a plenary session or go through hearings by the House justice committee. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has publicly discouraged lawmakers from pursuing the impeachment, calling it a waste of time. Meanwhile, the influential Iglesia Ni Cristo has announced its readiness to hold rallies against the impeachment.
If the impeachment process leads to Duterte’s disqualification, Padilla’s potential presidential run in 2028 becomes a serious consideration for the party.
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