Former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon has officially announced her candidacy for the Senate in the 2028 national elections, vowing to champion the Visayan people and reclaim representation for Cebuano voices in the upper chamber.

Speaking at the launch of the Cebu Alliance for Duterte (CAD) 2028 in Cebu City on March 13, Guanzon declared her intent to run, emphasizing the absence of Cebuano senators in recent decades. “I will fight for the Visayans,” she said. “Forty years na walang Sebwanong senador. We will reclaim our seat in the Senate.”

The Cebu Alliance for Duterte, composed of leaders from Duterte Diehard Supporters (DDS)-aligned organizations across the Visayas and Mindanao, endorsed Guanzon alongside pediatrician Dr. Richard Mata as their official bets for the 2028 senatorial race. At least 120 representatives from various groups attended the event, pledging unity and cooperation in support of the alliance’s chosen candidates.

Guanzon, a lawyer and public servant, previously served as mayor of Cadiz in Negros Occidental and as a commissioner of both the Commission on Audit and the Commission on Elections. She was also proclaimed as the first nominee of the Komunidad ng Pamilya, Pasyente at Persons with Disabilities (P3PWD) party-list for the 19th Congress, though the Supreme Court later nullified her substitution after the 2022 elections.

Her candidacy is expected to energize Visayan voters, who have long sought stronger representation in the Senate. Cebu, with its five million-strong voting population, has not elected a senator since 2016, despite historically producing prominent figures such as Sergio Osmeña Sr., Vicente Sotto, and Marcelo Fernan.

Guanzon’s announcement comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2028 elections, with alliances forming and potential candidates positioning themselves early. Her outspoken advocacy for women’s rights, regional representation, and transparency in governance is likely to be central to her campaign platform.

With the backing of CAD and her strong ties to the Visayas, Guanzon is poised to be a significant contender in the 2028 senatorial race, aiming to restore Cebuano presence in the Senate after decades of absence.