Teodoro Eyes 2028 Philippine Presidential Run — SkimNews
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- Teodoro told Bloomberg News on Oct. 30 that he is open to running for Philippine president in 2028, saying, “If I have a chance, maybe.”
- China sanctioned Teodoro earlier in 2026, barring him from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau; he has been among the most vocal critics of China’s military buildup in the South China Sea.
- Philippines hosted American weaponry and expanded US forces’ access to military sites near Taiwan and the South China Sea under Teodoro.
- Teodoro urged the next Philippine leadership to be cautious about Chinese money, warning about investment in critical infrastructure while saying that some investments with appropriate due diligence were not bad.
- Sara Duterte is the leading candidate for the next election and faces a Senate impeachment trial that could bar her from politics for life if convicted.
- Pete Hegseth and Teodoro agreed in Cebu City to fast-track Philippine military modernisation during a South-east Asian defence chiefs’ summit, where the US pushed a defence cooperation framework.
- Ferdinand Marcos Jr cannot run for re-election because of presidential term limits.
Why it matters: For Philippine voters, the 2028 race would contrast Teodoro’s China and US policies with Rodrigo Duterte’s record of closer ties to Beijing, while Marcos cannot run again. Sara Duterte is the leading candidate, but conviction in her Senate impeachment trial would bar her from politics for life, changing the field Teodoro said he might enter.
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