Marcos reveals what he wants in his 2028 successor

National

NO NAME yet, but a clear criterion: President Marcos said his eventual 2028 presidential pick must be someone who can continue his administration’s campaign against corruption.

In a report by Inquirer.net, Marcos said he would endorse a candidate for president in 2028 whom he believes can carry forward his administration’s anticorruption efforts, although he stressed that it was still too early to identify his preferred successor.

“I will certainly endorse a candidate in the 2028 elections. Who that is, I cannot tell you because even I don’t know,” Marcos said during a presidential luncheon with members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) on Friday, Aug 14.

He said only one prospective presidential candidate had so far formally declared a bid and that he would support someone he was confident could sustain the government’s anticorruption measures.

Vice President Sara Duterte, one of Marcos’ most vocal critics, is the only person to have publicly declared an intention to seek the presidency in 2028. Sen. Risa Hontiveros has said she was “open” to running.

Marcos said his political party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, would seek alliances with other parties, with the eventual form of any coalition to be determined through negotiations.

He also described recent surveys of possible presidential candidates as “interesting,” particularly the standing of Duterte and former Vice President Leni Robredo.

A Pulse Asia survey released July 22 showed Duterte leading with 49 percent, followed by Robredo with 26 percent and Sen. Raffy Tulfo with 14 percent. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong each received 1 percent, while Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Nicolas Torre III registered 0.1 percent.

Duterte is being tried by the Senate impeachment court on charges of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and bribery. A conviction could permanently bar her from public office. Robredo, who lost to Marcos in 2022, is now mayor of Naga City and has ruled out another presidential run.

Marcos said the political landscape could still change before he chooses whom to endorse, citing the “so many political events” that could unfold before 2028. He said he had not approached any potential candidate about running and that such discussions had not begun.

Marcos also said survey results would not influence his decisions or change the direction of his administration, although he acknowledged that he still paid attention to how the public viewed his performance.

A Social Weather Stations survey conducted June 20 to 29 found that 34 percent of Filipinos had “much trust” in Marcos, his lowest rating since July 2024. Duterte’s trust rating remained at 57 percent.

Another SWS poll released Aug. 13 showed the administration’s net satisfaction improving to “neutral” +1 in June from a record-low “poor” -13 in March.(MyTVCebu)