Former Davao del Norte governor Anthony Del Rosario has floated Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as his top choice to join Vice President Sara Duterte should she decide to run for president in 2028, pointing to the first-term lawmaker’s ability to align with her approach to governance.
Del Rosario made the remark during an interview on The Spokes on the Bilyonaryo News Channel, where he was asked to identify possible vice-presidential contenders from within Congress. Serving as secretary general of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), Del Rosario said one name immediately surfaced when the conversation turned to a future Sara Duterte ticket.
“What if she became President? She would have to choose from the Senate or the House, right? The first person I said was Marcoleta,” he told program hosts Edwin Lacierda and Lorelei Fajardo.
Although Del Rosario noted that he does not personally know the senator, he expressed confidence in their compatibility, saying, “I believe that he can complement Sara’s style.”
He also cited the public’s shifting perception of Marcoleta during the previous national campaign, recalling how voters warmed to the then-candidate. “I think a lot of people prior to the campaign would not have ever thought of voting for Marcoleta. But during the campaign, I think things changed, you know, ‘Let’s give him a try,’” he said.
The HNP official acknowledged that Marcoleta remains a polarizing figure but believes the senator has performed effectively since taking office. “And so far, I think, yes, of course… it’s either you hate him or you love him. But I think he’s doing well,” he added.
Marcoleta’s tenure in the Senate has also drawn scrutiny, including questions about irregularities in his 2025 Statement of Contributions and Expenditures, where reported campaign spending exceeded his declared net worth of P51.96 million despite stating he received no campaign contributions.
