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Senator Raffy Tulfo holds a media, February 12, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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MV TRISHA KERSTIN-3 Sinking

RG Cruz

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177243077732020260212-tulfo-mv-trisha-kerstin-3-survivors-MT1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Senator Raffy Tulfo holds a media, February 12, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA (UPDATED) — Sen. Raffy Tulfo said Monday he would not seek the presidency or the vice presidency and would instead eye reelection to the Senate in 2028. “Masaya ako dito sa Senado. Maraming ako nagagawa. For me, happy ako rito. So bakit ako pupunta sa isang bagay na magkakaroon pa ako ng sakit sa ulo?” Tulfo told reporters.Tulfo said he had declined suggestions from some in the private sector to seek higher office. But he clarified he was not approached by either Vice President Sara Duterte or President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.“Yung mga nagsabi sa akin, yun nasa private sector… kumbaga nag-recommend lang. Pero wala nagsabi na, ‘Uuy, tumakbo ka, akong bahala sa&#x27;yo, tulungan kita.’ Wala. Yun yung mga nakipag-usap sa akin, parang nag-recommend lang, parang sasuggest, what if yun. Tapos yung sabi ko, ‘Pasensya na, ayoko,’” he said. Tulfo said he feels he can do a lot as Senator, compared to the presidency.&quot;Dito mas marami ako nagagawa, marami ako nakakausap ng tao, face to face, nakakausap ko sila, nabibigyan ko solusyon yung kanilang problema. ‘Pag ikaw ay nandun sa taas, damn if you do, damn if you don&#x27;t. Kung gumawa ka ng tama, mali ka meron pa rin kokontra sa &#x27;yo na mali ka, hindi ka gumawa, sabihin tamad ka at wala kang pakinabang,” Tulfo said. “Yun ang target ko. Magre-elect lang ako. So, happy na ako magpagtrabaho muli,&quot; he added.  &quot;Definitely. I will run for re-election. Yan itaga nyo sa bato. I will run for re-election sa 2028 as senator.&quot;His brother Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who won a Senate seat in the 2025 elections, said last Feb. 19 that he also had no plans of running for higher office. Tulfo made the comments after an analyst floated a potential tandem of former Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Erwin Tulfo for president and vice president.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/20/will-it-be-leni-tulfo-vs-sara-marcoleta-in-2028-campaign-strategist-chimes-in-1117">Will it be Leni-Tulfo vs Sara-Marcoleta in 2028? Campaign strategist chimes in</a></div>Tulfo cited the challenges of the campaign in 2025, which he said he would rather not go through again.<div> </div><div>&#x27;SALAMAT KAY SEN. RAFFY&#x27;</div>Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros thanked Tulfo for wishing her luck in the 2028 elections. Hontiveros has previously said she is open to running for President, Vice President, or any role the united opposition will give her.&quot;Salamat kay Sen. Raffy. Mula noong naging seatmates kami sa previous Congress, talagang ganoon kagaan ang loob namin sa isa&#x27;t isa. Ang progress po sa hanay ng opposition and reform-minded and modernizing groups ay patuloy ang aming pagbubuo ng pagkakaisa para pumili ng isang standard bearer na ilalaban sa 2028 kasama ng isang buong slate,&quot; she said.Regarding the timeline on when their announcement will be, Hontiveros said “the earlier, the better” to attract support from the public. &quot;We&#x27;re going through that process very seriously. Several of us are open or willing. So ako, umaasa ako na mas maaga kaysa sa mas huli ay makapag-anunsiyo na kami,&quot; Hontiveros explained.On the possibility of having a female President and female Vice President, Hontiveros said: &quot;Well, everywhere is a woman&#x27;s place, every time is a woman&#x27;s time. So kung anoman ang mapagkakasunduan ng nagkakaisang mga puwersa para sa 2028, nandoon, nandoon lagi ang mga babae kasama.&quot;

Sen. Raffy Tulfo said Monday he would not seek the presidency or the vice presidency and would instead eye reelection to the Senate in 2028.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo said Monday he would not seek the presidency or the vice presidency and would instead eye reelection to the Senate in 2028.

Raffy Tulfo eyes reelection in 2028, declines higher office

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Raffy Tulfo eyes reelection in 2028, declines higher office

RG Cruz,

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 02, 2026 01:55 PM PHT

|

Updated March 02, 2026 02:57 PM PHT

Read More:

Tulfo

Raffy Tulfo

Erwin Tulfo

Senate

2028 elections

politics

Robredo

Duterte

Marcos

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