Senator Bam Aquino has publicly rejected circulating claims that he plans to run as vice president in the 2028 elections, responding directly to the speculation on his official Facebook page.
In a post early Friday, Aquino wrote: “I will not run for Vice President in 2028.” He accompanied the statement with a neutral emoji, signaling a straightforward denial of the claims. Attached in his update was a screenshot of a tabloid-style article asking whether Aquino would be Sara Duterte’s running mate in 2028.
The post comes amid growing online chatter and political punditry speculating about possible alliances ahead of the next national elections.
The viral report Aquino addressed suggested that the senator might pair with Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who officially announced her presidential bid for 2028 in February 2026 — becoming the first major candidate to declare for that race. Duterte’s announcement has sparked intense political forecasting around potential running mates and alliances.
The tabloid report circulated statements from Atty. Barry Gutierrez, a former spokesman for then-Vice President Leni Robredo, who claimed Aquino’s earlier comments on extrajudicial killings (EJK) — specifically that such cases “ideally” should be tried in the Philippines’ courts — might be aimed at appealing to Duterte supporters.
Critics pointed to the comment as an attempt to bridge political divides following Aquino’s criticism of past and present administrations. Gutierrez was quoted suggesting that Aquino’s stance would only make strategic sense if he were aiming for the vice presidency on a Duterte-led ticket.
However, Aquino’s Facebook denial makes clear he currently has no intention of pursuing the vice presidency, effectively quashing that particular narrative.
Political analysts note that Aquino’s legislative record and public profile have often aligned with reform-oriented and youth-focused policy positions, particularly his sponsorship of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which expanded tuition-free access to state universities earlier in his Senate career.
Observers say the senator’s political standing, which remains strong following his successful Senate comeback in 2025 after previously serving from 2013 to 2019, continues to fuel speculation about his possible ambitions — but any formal bid for national office remains unconfirmed beyond Aquino’s Thursday denial.
As of now, the only declared presidential candidate is Sara Duterte, with the filing of official certificates of candidacy expected in late 2027 ahead of the 2028 elections.
