Former Senate president Franklin Drilon on Monday raised concerns about the opposition’s ability to mount a viable challenge in the 2028 presidential race, pointing to the absence of an agreed process for selecting a standard-bearer.
Speaking during the Q&A segment titled “FRANKAHAN” at the launch of his memoir Being Frank: A Memoir in Makati City, Drilon said opposition figures need to confront the issue directly by consolidating behind one name. “Agree and choose a ‘common candidate.’”
He argued that fragmentation would weaken any electoral bid, particularly in a political environment lacking strong party structures. According to Drilon, the opposition has no established convention or system that could formally produce a unified choice, making early coordination even more critical. “In my view, we need a single candidate and the difficulty of our situation is that we have no mechanism, we have no political party system. We have no convention to come up with that process, to come up with that decision of having a single candidate,” he said.
Drilon stressed that discussions should not be delayed, saying serious preparations must begin well ahead of the campaign period. “Unless we take things seriously, early enough and in my view we should go through the process of choosing a common candidate,” he added.
He also urged politicians who are not aligned with the current administration to participate in those talks, with the understanding that the outcome should be respected by all involved. “All those today who are interested in 2028 who are not identified with the administration, should come to agreement that whoever is chosen in a process which we all agree on, which we all should agree on, then that should be the common candidate,” Drilon said.
During the same exchange, Drilon acknowledged the current political landscape, noting that Vice President Sara Duterte remains the most formidable potential contender at this stage. “Let’s face it, Sara Duterte is the strongest candidate in so far as 2028 is concerned,” he said.
He clarified, however, that his remarks were personal assessments and not an official position of the opposition, and he characterized the impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as developments he sees as politically linked to the 2028 presidential contest. “Let me tell you that I view the present events or episodes in the impeachment of the vice president and the president as a prelude related to the presidential election in 2028,” Drilon said.
