Palace denies Marcos-backed Robredo-Pacquiao 2028 tandem

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday downplayed rumors of a Marcos administration-backed slate for the 2028 elections led by Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and Secretary Manny Pacquiao.

Palace press officer Claire Castro said she had received no information about Robredo and Pacquiao being courted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to run for president and vice president, respectively.

According to Castro, Marcos is currently focused on pressing concerns, particularly preparations for the coming Super El Niño and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

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“For now, politics or politicking is not what the administration is thinking about,” she said.

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“Let’s focus on the work first. Let’s set aside talks about the elections.”

Political strategist Lito Banayo revealed in a recent media interview that Malacañang is eyeing to get Robredo and Pacquiao as standard bearers of the administration in the 2028 elections.

READ: 2028 polls survey: Sara-Robin 12 points ahead of Leni-Bam tandem — OCTA

He linked Pacquiao’s recent appointment as lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), with the rank of Cabinet secretary, to the alleged plan to groom him for a higher post.

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Marcos, Robredo and Pacquiao ran against each other during the 2022 presidential race, where Marcos won by a landslide.

In the 2025 midterm elections, Pacquiao ran for senator under Marcos’ Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas but lost. 

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Despite being political rivals with Marcos, Robredo publicly endorsed the senatorial bid of Pacquiao.

Castro, however, questioned Banayo’s authority to speak about supposedly internal communications inside Marcos’ close circles.

“Is that his own political strategy? He is not even part of the administration,” she noted.

READ: Marcos to endorse 2028 bet who’ll sustain antigraft drive

Banayo served as an appointee of different administrations, the last of which was as chair of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, the de facto embassy of the Philippines in Taiwan,  from 2016 to 2022 during the term of then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

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He worked as campaign manager for politicians such as the presidential runs of Panfilo Lacson in 2004, Noynoy Aquino in 2010, and Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso in 2022. /gsg