A private lunch among key figures from the Liberal Party (LP) and Akbayan this week has fueled fresh speculation that the opposition may already be laying the groundwork for the 2028 presidential elections, amid the deepening political rift between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Former Vice President Leni Robredo shared photos of the gathering on her Facebook account, showing her with former Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senators Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno, and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.
Robredo described the lunch as a rare reunion, noting that it was the first time the group had been together since the 2022 elections.
While participants downplayed the meeting as a simple catch-up among longtime allies, De Lima acknowledged that they could not avoid discussing pressing national issues, including the 2028 elections, though she stressed that there were no in-depth talks about political plans.
The reunion came shortly after the Liberal Party marked its 80th anniversary, where party leaders emphasized unity and consolidation ahead of future electoral battles. LP officials have previously said the party intends to rally behind a single presidential candidate, though no names have been floated so far.
