Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she is preparing for a possible presidential bid in the May 2028 elections as she pushed for the opposition to field a single candidate.

“I always say, just one. That’s why I’m preparing, I’m strengthening myself,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros emphasized the importance of preparing herself to become the strongest possible contender to lead the opposition in the presidential race.

She said coordination with political allies and groups would follow once a consensus is reached on who should carry the opposition banner.

“Importante na isa lang, let's unite around the strongest one,” she said.

(It is important that there is only one. Let's unite around the strongest one.)

Hontiveros stressed that fielding a single, unified candidate would be crucial for the opposition to remain competitive in 2028.

She is among several political figures being considered as potential presidential candidates, with Vice President Sara Duterte leading early preference surveys.

A Pulse Asia survey conducted in July 2026 showed Duterte leading Hontiveros, 60 percent to 21 percent, in a hypothetical head-to-head presidential race.

In a three-way matchup, Duterte garnered 56 percent, followed by Sen. Erwin Tulfo with 16 percent and Hontiveros with 13 percent.