Camille Naredo

Senator Risa Hontiveros during the plenary budget deliberations at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on November 27, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Senator Risa Hontiveros during the plenary budget deliberations at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on November 27, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SENATE- BUDGET HEARING

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177192060114620251127-senate-budget-deliberation-hontiveros-JC6810.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Senator Risa Hontiveros during the plenary budget deliberations at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on November 27, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/>Senator Risa Hontiveros during the plenary budget deliberations at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on November 27, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- Senator Risa Hontiveros did not immediately dismiss the idea of fielding a common candidate for the presidency with their ideological rivals -- the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.However, she stressed that their bloc must first unite to discuss the proposition, if the administration does approach them with the idea of fielding a common standard-bearer to challenge Vice President Sara Duterte.Duterte has already declared her plans to seek the presidency in the 2028 national elections.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/10/hontiveros-open-to-running-for-president-or-vp-in-2028-1021">READ: Hontiveros open to running for president or VP in 2028</a></div>&quot;Hindi ko pa masabi sa ngayon. Dahil nga, nag-uunite pa kami dun sa original na mga magkakasama. And we need to do that para rin pag-usapan,&quot; Hontiveros said Tuesday. &quot;Hindi lang yung common values namin na matagal na namin pinangahawakan at alam namin tungkol sa isa&#x27;t isa.&quot;&quot;Pero kapag lumapit na, kung lumapit na yung ganyang scenario, pag-usapan din namin o ano yung degree of common values na kailangan sa sino mang ibang grupo lampas sa atin na maaari,&quot; she added.&quot;If ever I&#x27;ll be open to it, later stage na yun. Kasi andito pa rin kami sa early pero pinaka-importanting stage ng pagkakaisa ng lahat ng mga opposition and reform minded and modernizing forces.&quot;Hontiveros did note that so far, no one from the administration has approached them.&quot;Wala pa naman. Wala pa naman. Baka narinig din nila yung sinasabi kong nag-uunite pa kami. If ever they&#x27;re thinking about us, then later stage pa po yun. Hindi pa ngayon yun,&quot; she said.Speculation about the potential joining of forces of the political rivals reached a new high after Hontiveros and former Vice President Leni Robredo made an appearance at the Malacanang earlier this week.Hontiveros explained that she was in Malacanang for a meeting of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council. Robredo, meanwhile, met Marcos at a local event in Naga City last Saturday and again at the Palace on Monday.

Senator Risa Hontiveros did not immediately dismiss the idea of fielding a common candidate for the presidency with their ideological rivals -- the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Senator Risa Hontiveros did not immediately dismiss the idea of fielding a common candidate for the presidency with their ideological rivals -- the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Hontiveros won't say no to common presidential candidate with admin - yet

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Hontiveros won't say no to common presidential candidate with admin - yet

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 24, 2026 04:11 PM PHT

Read More:

Risa Hontiveros

2028 elections

Halalan 2028

Sara Duterte

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.