Actress Nadine Lustre on Tuesday expressed support for former Vice President and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo should she decide to seek the presidency again in the 2028 elections.
“Sometimes the best presidents are those who don’t want to run,” Lustre told reporters in an ambush interview at the House of Representatives.
Lustre said she would “definitely” support Robredo if the latter chooses to return to the national political stage, noting that she has long believed Robredo would be the strongest choice for the country’s top post.
According to the actress, Robredo “is really the best candidate for the presidency, obviously, and I supported her way back when she ran the first time.”
However, Lustre said the decision remains with Robredo, adding, “We’ll cross the bridge when we get there because right now, it’s really hard to say.”
Lustre was at the Batasang Pambansa with her partner, Filipino-French businessman Christophe Bariou, as they joined Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima in filing several proposed measures focused on environmental protection and animal welfare.
The actress was among the public figures who campaigned for Robredo during the 2022 presidential elections and also supported De Lima during her successful House run last year.
Her remarks came amid renewed discussions about possible opposition alliances for the 2028 elections, following a recent gathering of Liberal Party and Akbayan figures, with Vice President Sara Duterte widely viewed as the leading contender for the presidency.
Robredo has repeatedly said she intends to concentrate on her work in local government and has indicated she is not planning another presidential bid.
De Lima, who was recently elected chair of the Liberal Party, said she remains hopeful Robredo could still reconsider.
De Lima said they were “not losing hope that she would change her mind … because for me, she’s the most winnable among the possible opposition candidates.”
“As you recall, she was not able to make it (in 2022) because the Marcos-Duterte forces united at the time, but now we’re seeing what’s happening, we’ve seen how this country is being run,” De Lima said.
“So perhaps, those who did not vote for her then would have the chance to reflect again on what is happening to our economy, the overall state of our country, the national affairs — we need somebody like [Robredo], who’s not only clean but very capable,” she added.
