Talent manager and showbiz insider Ogie Diaz has weighed in on the upcoming 2028 presidential elections, suggesting that aspirants should announce their candidacies early to give Filipinos more time to evaluate their choices.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, August 21, Diaz said that if no other contender comes forward soon, Vice President Sara Duterte will have a huge advantage in securing the presidency.
“‘Pag wala pang nag-announce next year, malaki ang chance panalo si VP Sara,” Diaz wrote. “Kaya dapat ngayon pa lang, mag-announce na yung mga tatakbo.”
Recent survey results by Tangere, conducted from June 20 to 22, showed Duterte as the frontrunner among potential presidential bets for 2028. Diaz noted that while former Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Raffy Tulfo and Erwin Tulfo, and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto are being mentioned as possible contenders, none of them have confirmed plans to run.
“Maraming nagtutulak uli kay Ma’m Leni Robredo, pero tahimik lang si Ma’m Leni kahit nasa kanya ang qualities ng isang dapat at karapat-dapat na iluklok — malinis ang track record, hindi corrupt, matino. Si Sen. Raffy o si Sen. Erwin Tulfo, nakakuha din ng porsiyento sa survey, pero wala pa ring kibo kung tatakbo o hindi,” he added.
Diaz also lamented that Sotto, who turns 40 only in time for the 2028 polls, might be unable to ride on his growing popularity if reforms to lower the minimum presidential age requirement do not materialize.
“Kaya dapat ngayon pa lang, mag-announce na yung mga tatakbo. Kung tutuntong nga lang ng 40yo si Mayor Vico Sotto bago mag-eleksyon, tapos na ang boxing, eh. Dami nanghinayang,” he wrote.
According to Diaz, early announcements will help voters prepare for the kind of leadership they want after the Marcos administration. He emphasized that aspirants should not fear being accused of early politicking.
“Hayaan nyo nang bugbugin kayo ngayon ng fake news. Eh di bugbugin nyo rin ng fact news with resibo. Itigil na yung rason na ‘maaga pa, baka sabihin, namumulitika,’” Diaz said. “Kung malinis ang intensyon, hayaan mo na silang mag-isip na namumulitika ka. Sa halip, isipin mo kung yang uri mo ang kailangan ng bayan at ng taumbayan.”
Diaz’s post sparked discussions among netizens, with some agreeing on the need for early candidacies and others pointing out the challenges of Philippine political culture.
With three years left before the elections, the conversation around potential candidates is already heating up—something Ogie Diaz believes should start even earlier for the sake of the Filipino electorate.
