MANILA — Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she is preparing for a possible presidential run in 2028 but insisted the opposition must ultimately rally behind a single candidate with the best chance of winning.
“I am preparing very hard, working very hard … I’m strengthening myself as the strongest possible candidate,” Hontiveros said at a press conference on Friday, Aug. 21, according to reports by the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Manila Bulletin.
“Let’s unite around the strongest one so we have a fighting chance,” she said.
Willing to give way
Hontiveros said she would speak with allies once there are indicators that she is the strongest possible candidate, and that she would support someone else from their group if that person had a better chance of winning.
Manila Bulletin reported that she is open to being the opposition’s sole presidential candidate. Brigada News reported she signalled readiness for 2028 while saying she would give way to a stronger ally.
A timetable for deciding
The group’s stated target is to settle on a candidate by the end of 2026 or during the first quarter of 2027 — a timeline that would fix the opposition’s standard-bearer well before the campaign period.
Hontiveros has previously called for a single opposition bet in 2028. Supporters launched a movement backing her candidacy earlier in 2026.
What it means
The central problem Hontiveros described is vote-splitting: multiple opposition candidates dividing the same base. Her position — prepare seriously, then defer if someone proves stronger — is an attempt to build standing without foreclosing a unified ticket.
What our readers said
Breaking News Negros Oriental reviewed 75 comments left on its own coverage of this story. The most common theme was politics, campaigning or elections, appearing in 7 of 73 comments carrying text — about 10 per cent.
Other recurring themes were sympathy, prayers or condolence (3), appreciation or thanks (3), questions about timing or priorities (2), criticism of government or officials (1).
Themes were identified by keyword analysis of comment text. The sample reflects the reaction of this publication’s readers rather than a scientific survey of public opinion, and individual commenters are not identified.
Reporting by Breaking News Negros Oriental. Background drawn from published reports by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Brigada News and BusinessWorld.
