Mc Richard Paglicawan
Senator Robin Padilla said he is confident he can handle the role of Vice President should he decide to run — and win — in the 2028 national elections.
In a statement released Friday, February 20, 2026, Padilla said he was “born ready” and downplayed the complexity of the vice presidency.
“Ipinanganak po tayong ready. Lalo na ‘yan, para sa akin… Vice President, hindi naman masyadong ano yan… puro advocacy lang ‘yan eh. Parang ikaw ang spare tire, ‘di ba? Kayang-kaya ‘yan,” he said.
Despite expressing readiness, Padilla previously stated that he prefers a tandem between Sara Duterte and Imee Marcos for 2028.
In an ambush interview on February 18, he reiterated his position: “Ayun ang VP ko oh, si Imee.”
When asked if he would consider being Duterte’s running mate, he replied: “Hindi po, si Imee ang gusto ko. Ano ako eh, Sara-Imee.”
Padilla added that it may be time for Filipinos to experience women leading the country’s top positions.
“Panahon na para maramdaman ng mga Pinoy ang girl power.”
Although he has repeatedly expressed reluctance toward politics, Padilla said he would reconsider if asked by former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“Kapag utos ni Digong. Walang pwedeng mag utos sa akin kahit sino, si Digong lang.”
He maintained that he never intended to pursue politics long-term.
“Kasi ayaw ko talaga ng pulitika… Basta sinabi ni Digong susunod ako.”
Earlier this year, Padilla’s wife, television host Mariel Rodriguez, spoke about his political future during an interview on Julius Babao UNPLUGGED.
“Robin does not. Ayaw niya na. He is always saying that because nababagalan siya sa mga bagay-bagay ganoon,” she said.
Rodriguez admitted she has mixed feelings, sometimes encouraging him to step away from politics, while at other times recognizing his impact as a senator.
“There are days that I tell him ‘hindi na, huwag na talaga—huwag na, hindi na.’ And [there were] also days that people come up to me…[napapaisip] ako always na parang ‘sandali, kaya lang may nagagawa siya e.’”
She also shared her frustration over how her husband’s statements are sometimes taken out of context.
“Parang I feel na they don’t deserve him,” she said.
Rodriguez emphasized that she does not see her husband as a traditional politician.
“I still believe that Robin is not a politician. I feel that the title for Robin is a public servant.”
It can be recalled that Padilla earlier declared he had no plans to run in 2028.
“Maraming salamat po. Pero wag niyo na po ako isama sa line up at hindi na po ako matakbo sa 2028. Mabuhay po,” he said in a previous statement.
