Sen. Bam Aquino has firmly denied speculations that he is eyeing a vice presidential bid in 2028, stressing that his priority remains addressing the country’s urgent challenges rather than engaging in early political maneuvering.
The clarification came amid talks of potential tandems for the 2028 national elections following Vice President Sara Duterte’s announcement that she intends to run for president. Aquino on Thursday, Feb. 19, rejected claims that he would serve as Duterte’s running mate.
In a brief statement posted on Facebook, Aquino refuted a circulating news report suggesting a Duterte-Aquino tandem was in the works.
Aquino, who was elected to the Senate in 2025, is serving a six-year term and remains eligible for reelection.
Speculation about a possible alliance emerged after he remarked in a television interview that the trial of former president Rodrigo Duterte for murder as a crime against humanity should “ideally” take place on Philippine soil. He later clarified that he respects the proceedings of the International Criminal Court in relation to the case.
The senator underscored that political ambitions should take a backseat while Filipinos continue to struggle with pressing issues such as the education crisis, unemployment, rising prices, and corruption.
“Nakakahiyang mamulitika habang napakaraming pinagdadaanan ng taumbayan,” Aquino said.
“Iyong bansa natin, pagdating sa edukasyon, pagdating sa ekonomiya, presyong bilihin, sa pagtugis sa korapsyon, napakaraming hinaharap. Iyan dapat iyong inuuna natin, hindi dapat ang pamumulitika,” he added.
Aquino emphasized that discussions about 2028 have their proper time, but leaders must first focus on urgent national concerns.
“Iyong 2028, darating rin iyan. At may tamang panahon na pag-usapan iyan. Pero ngayon, ang tamang gawin, pag-usapan iyong mga mahalaga sa taumbayan,” he said.
As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Aquino said he remains committed to advancing key legislative measures aimed at directly benefiting Filipinos, particularly students and the youth.
Several of his priority bills are included in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) agenda. These include the proposed Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act; the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, also known as the Blockchain the Budget Bill; the Party-list System Reform Act; amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act; the proposed abolition of the travel tax; and amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Act.
The Senate recently approved the CAP Act (Senate Bill No. 1482) and the CADENA Act (Senate Bill No. 1506) on third and final reading, with vote counts of 22-0 and 17-0, respectively.
Designed to help address the country’s 166,000-classroom shortage, the CAP Act authorizes local government units and qualified non-governmental organizations to construct classrooms within their jurisdictions, provided they comply with Department of Education standards and guidelines.
