MANILA, Philippines — Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Atty. Rowena Guanzon has proposed a potential political pairing for the 2028 national elections: Senator Robin Padilla as the running mate of Vice President Sara Duterte. The suggestion comes amid remarks from Padilla’s wife, Mariel Rodriguez, who indicated that the senator is reluctant to run again due to the slow legislative process and frequent political disputes in the Senate.

Guanzon highlighted that such a tandem could be strategically strong. “Vice President Duterte commands significant support across Visayas and Mindanao, while Senator Padilla enjoys widespread popularity in Luzon and Mindanao. Together, they could form a formidable national alliance,” Guanzon noted.

In response, Padilla expressed gratitude for Guanzon’s recognition of his capabilities as a public servant, despite his family’s stated preference for him to step back from politics. “I appreciate the confidence shown in my service to the people,” the senator said, emphasizing his commitment to public service regardless of his future political plans.

The proposal has sparked public discourse about celebrity influence in politics, regional support bases, and the growing trend of political alliances shaped by popularity rather than experience. While Vice President Duterte remains a prominent figure in Philippine politics, Padilla’s celebrity appeal could either boost or complicate voter perceptions. The key question now remains: in a political landscape where name recall and public popularity often influence elections as much as policy and experience, can a Duterte-Padilla alliance truly balance governance competence with mass appeal, or is it a campaign built more on charisma than capability? (Larawan mula: Inday Sara Duterte, Robin Padilla / Facebook)