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MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Raffy Tulfo brushed off speculation of a possible presidential bid in the 2028 national elections, saying he has no plans to run and is "happy" serving in the Senate.
During a Senate press conference on Monday, March 2, reporters pressed Tulfo on whether his decision was final and unlikely to change. He responded that his decision stands "as of today, as of the future," and that it is his "final answer."
The senator explained that he enjoys working in the Senate, where he feels he can be most effective, and believes seeking a higher post would only cause him headaches.
"Masaya ako dito sa Senado. Marami ako nagagawa. For me, happy ako rito. Bakit ako pupunta sa isang bagay na magkakaroon pa ako ng sakit sa ulo?" Tulfo said. (I'm happy here in the Senate. I accomplish a lot. For me, I’m happy here. Why would I go for something that would just give me a headache?)
Tulfo also clarified that Vice President Sara Duterte did not request him to join her ticket in the coming elections, and President Bongbong Marcos likewise did not ask him to take the reins after his term.
He, however, confirmed receiving offers from private sector groups urging him to run for certain positions in the 2028 elections, but said he declined and gave them a "flat no."
"Yeah, of course. But I told them upfront, 'No.' May mga nagsasabi, 'Pwede ka dito, pwede ka dito.' Sabi ko, 'I'm sorry, salamat sa tiwala, pero no.' Flat no agad," Tulfo said.
(Yes, of course. But I told them upfront, ‘No.’ Some were saying, ‘You could run here, you could run there.’ I told them, ‘I’m sorry, thank you for the trust, but no.’ It was a flat no right away.)
Tulfo ran for senator for the first time in the 2022 elections, making his first term set to end in 2028. When asked if he would seek reelection, he said he certainly will.
"Yes, 'yun ang target ko. Mare-elect lang ako, happy na ako makapagtrabaho muli," he said. (Yes, that is my target. So long as I'm reelected, I'll be happy to work again.)
What polls say
Over the past year, public opinion polls have consistently ranked Tulfo as one of the top-performing senators and a potential presidential contender, alongside Duterte and former vice president Leni Robredo.
Some have even floated the idea of a Leni-Tulfo tandem in the upcoming elections, especially after people suggested that Marcos might seek to partner with Robredo to fight off Duterte, who has already announced her presidential bid.
Unlike Tulfo, Robredo did not give a flat-out no. She, however, said she decided years ago not to run for president again, choosing to focus on her role as mayor of Naga City and calling any talk of a possible bid a "disservice" to her constituents.
Members of the Liberal Party have also downplayed the likelihood of a Leni-Marcos tandem, noting that the party has not yet chosen its standard bearers for the 2028 elections and may only decide by the end of this year or early 2027.
Duterte, meanwhile, said she has already chosen her running mate for the 2028 elections but prefers not to reveal their name yet to shield them from potential political attacks. Some, however, are speculating that her vice presidential candidate could be Sen. Imee Marcos or Sen. Robin Padilla, among others.
