MANILA, Philippines — Despite her recent public pivot toward local governance, the leadership of the Liberal Party (LP) isn’t ready to close the book on a potential national comeback for former Vice President Leni Robredo.
LP President Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan recently expressed that while the party respects Robredo’s current focus, he remains hopeful she might eventually reconsider her stance on the 2028 presidential race. The sentiment comes even as Robredo has settled into her new role as Mayor of Naga City following a landslide victory in the 2025 midterm elections.
Since her return to City Hall in Naga, Robredo has been vocal about her preference for executive work at the grassroots level. Just last month, she reiterated that she is shunning national office to focus on her “passion” for local projects, even hinting at a potential reelection bid as mayor in three years.
However, for the Liberal Party, Robredo remains their most potent symbol of “principled politics.”
“We are not closing any doors,” Pangilinan noted in a recent interview. “The Pink Wave is alive and kicking, and while we are currently focused on strengthening the party from the ground up, the leadership of someone like Leni Robredo is something the country will always look for.”
The hope within the LP stems from the rapidly changing political landscape. With the 2028 elections looming, several key factors are keeping the “Draft Leni” movement alive:
- The “KiBam” Momentum: The successful Senate returns of Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino in 2025 have revitalized the LP’s morale, proving that the opposition still has significant national drawing power.
- The Duterte Factor: With Vice President Sara Duterte signaling her own 2028 ambitions, calls for a “unifying alternative” from the opposition are expected to grow louder as the election year approaches.
- A “Wait and See” Approach: Analysts suggest that while Robredo is currently “Naga-bound,” the pressure from her volunteer base—millions strong from her 2022 campaign—could play a decisive role as the 2027 filing period nears.
For now, the Liberal Party is focusing on its 80th-anniversary goal: rebranding and expansion. Under the leadership of Pangilinan and LP President Erin Tañada, the party is moving away from being seen as a “spent force” and toward a “genuine alternative” to the current political boulders.
Whether the “Beacon of Naga” will eventually answer the call to return to the national stage remains the biggest question in Philippine politics. For her allies in the Liberal Party, the answer is simple: they’ll keep the porch light on.