Why we need to course correct in 2028

In 2028, electing a president who represents good governance will not only be transformative; it will be an act of national survival. I don’t mean to be dramatic, but this is the situation we face.

The administrations of Rodrigo Duterte and Bongbong Marcos left deep scars – each of a different character. Duterte blurred moral lines, dulled decency and pushed the boundaries of impudence in government. What was once unthinkable became acceptable. What was once condemned was rationalized.

Meanwhile, Marcos stalled the country’s development. Policy drift and inaction weakened the economy beyond what global shocks warrant. Industry and agriculture are stagnating due to the absence of meaningful reforms. Education failed to improve. Social services remain weak and uneven.

Come 2028, Filipinos will face a decisive choice: repeat the same leadership or demand change.

To elect candidates tied to the former or present regimes will only lock in today’s failures – even amplify them. This could effect damage beyond repair. So we must course correct. Because whether we admit it or not, the nation is drifting – steadily and dangerously – away from our goal of a strong, competitive republic and toward a state defined by perennial shortfalls and/or failure.

Duterte decay

The country lost its moral compass under Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership. Governance was reduced to strongman theatrics, where vulgarity was mistaken for authenticity and fear mistaken for strength.

Duterte normalized indecency in public life. Like a petulant child, he insisted on wielding power without consequence. More troubling, he entrenched a culture where wrongdoings were tolerated. Corruption and institutional crime did not merely persist; they thrived under his watch. His administration’s ties to convicted criminals like Michael Yang tell the whole story. The Pharmally scandal exposed a government that was  comfortable with abusing its people.

Too, Duterte’s appeasement of China weakened the country’s position in the West Philippine Sea. What demanded resolve was instead conceded with cowardice. China saw no need to make good on its $64-billion promised investments since Duterte readily gave Beijing his compliance without a fight.

But his most enduring damage was to our institutions. Duterte weakened the very safeguards designed to protect democracy. Checks and balances were undermined. He subjugated the ombudsman who appeared willing to act as Duterte’s personal lawyer rather than the guardian of accountability. The majority of the legislature became a kowtowing group of self-serving yes-men.

Freedom of the press and expression – cornerstones of any democracy – were diminished. Criticisms were vilified and public discourse narrowed.

Marcos malaise

If Duterte degraded our values, Bongbong Marcos failed to restore direction.

The Marcos presidency is defined by a lack of urgency, vision and national ambition. At a time requiring decisive leadership to compete and elevate, all we get is drift. He masks failures by dishing out subsidies and promises he most often fails to keep.

Marcos campaigned heavily on agriculture, yet the sector remains as troubled as ever. Structural inefficiencies have not been meaningfully addressed while cartels operate happily. The promise of food security remains unfulfilled.

The broader economy tells a similar story. Growth has slowed every year since Marcos took the helm. Structural reforms that could unlock long-term competitiveness are not moving. His leadership is weak; it is causing more damage than good.

More worrying, Marcos has failed to articulate a forward-looking strategy to future-proof the country. There is no coherent plan to build new industries or deepen integration into global value chains. Neither are there preparations for the shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world.

Education remains in crisis, yet no bold structural reforms are being pursued. No major infrastructure project has been initiated by Marcos. Adding insult to injury, he approved and presided over three of the most corrupt national budgets in history. Very on-brand.

Marcos’ presidency appears to serve only his family and not the people. Longstanding legal cases have faded, while the family basks in privilege and entitlement.

The good governance candidate

Realistically, we are down to three choices. Mayor Leni Robredo and Senators Bam Aquino and Risa Hontiveros. Each brings unique strengths.

Leni Robredo is not a symbolic alternative – she is a proven one. Robredo’s leadership is anchored on integrity paired with competence. Her performance record is defined by results, achieved despite limited resources and political persecution.

As vice president, she built a model of governance that was transparent, accountable and responsive. Her flagship program, Angat Buhay, was a system that mobilized partnerships across the private sector, civil society and local governments. It delivered tangible outcomes in health care, education, disaster response and livelihood development.

Sen. Bam Aquino is a reformist grounded on inclusive growth and human development. His work has consistently focused on education, entrepreneurship and employment. He championed laws that made college education accessible, supported MSMEs and strengthened pathways for job creation.

Aquino represents a brand of leadership that is forward-looking, data-driven and quietly effective. He does not rely on spectacle. He builds systems. In a country that must compete in a knowledge-driven world, his emphasis on investing in people is not just relevant, it is essential.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros is a leader shaped by decades of advocacy in public service. She has consistently championed accountability, human rights and social justice – even when it was politically risky. Her legislative record spans health care, women’s rights and the protection of vulnerable sectors. She was responsible for outing and ousting POGOs.

Hontiveros brings moral clarity and the discipline to translate principles into policy. She is unafraid to confront abuse, yet focused on building institutions that endure. In a time that demands both courage and competence, she offers leadership that is steady, values-driven and deeply grounded.

The president we choose in 2028 could be the most consequential. I hope we get it right this time.

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E-mail: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @aj_masigan