As Vice President Sara Duterte clings at the top of opinion polls for presidential candidates, in the face of increasing political challenges, some allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are said to be calling for a dramatic restructuring of the administration’s leadership team.

The proposed roster of reformists, technocrats, opposition politicians and experienced administrators signals emerging belief that governance — not politics alone — will decide the results of the 2028 presidential race.

That said, and with Sara’s numbers both resilient but showing signs of plateauing, the next two years may see a standoff between Duterte’s enduring political brand and Marcos’ ability to deliver visible, measurable results.

A group closely associated with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is pushing for a surgical change in his Cabinet to strengthen his party’s 2028 presidential bid.

In a meeting with one of its members, I was briefed that the ultimate goal is to beef up the President’s anti-corruption campaign and improve efficiency within the Cabinet. The proposed list, which he shared with me, looks like a forging of alliances from among the ranks of the “pink” and “yellow” movements who have similar objectives coming into the 2028 elections.

The list is made up of former interior secretary Mar Roxas for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Nicolas Torre for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), former interior secretary Benhur Abalos for the Department of Justice (DOJ), former vice president (VP) Leni Robredo for the Department of Transportation (DOTr), broadcaster Ramon Tulfo as Cabinet secretary, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV as Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes, current DILG chief and former Cavite governor Jonvic Remulla as chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and businessman Michael Ted Macapagal as president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

But would these people, particularly Leni Robredo, accept? And would the President heed such advice? Those were the questions I posed. The former VP, and now the 18th mayor of Naga since 2025, has time and again rejected political offers outside her hometown. The President, on the other hand, might find it problematic to expel people in the Cabinet, he himself chose. The source told me that those on the list are now being courted, but he was not sure if Robredo had been apprised of the offer.

To me, the most likely reason for these serious talks about a Cabinet reshuffle is the anxiety felt by non-political allies of the President regarding VP Sara Duterte’s lead in presidential preference surveys as these Pulse Asia tables below show.

Bold shakeup needed

The thinking behind the proposed dramatic revamp is straightforward. The administration needs to persuade Filipinos that the Marcos Jr. administration is delivering real outcomes because, as per the group’s reading, voters value results more than intentions. This could have sparked the dialogue for establishing an ambitious reconfiguration of the Cabinet aimed at signaling competence, accountability, and political inclusivity. 

Whether these appointments are ever finalized is uncertain. But the names themselves matter less than what they reveal about the unexpected political strategy taking root. 

If there is one department that comes to symbolize both the promise and perils of government spending, it is the DPWH. Infrastructure could have been one of the administration’s greatest accomplishments, but accusations of ghost flood-control projects, cost overruns, and potentially dodgy relationships between government officials and contractors have all tainted this narrative. 

Placing Mar Roxas at DPWH, the group hopes, would be a decisive step toward rebuilding public confidence in one of government’s most politically sensitive and closely scrutinized agencies. The source says that Roxas may have been beaten several times in the polls, but few people doubt his record of administrative discipline. The suggestion is that DPWH is no longer a political operator. It needs a reformist accountant able to convince taxpayers that their funds are allocated exactly as intended. 

Nicolas Torre at the helm of the DILG sends a different message. The department is the nerve center of local governance. It supervises local rulers, local peace-and-order organizations, and much of the machinery that directly impacts communities. In many ways, the Duterte brand was forged through local administration networks. A stronger DILG under Torre would indicate that the current administration seeks to reassert institutional discipline while enhancing local accountability. For political strategists, this is less about policy administration and more about strategic positioning. 

Benhur Abalos as justice secretary is another deliberate and calculated move. It signals that the President is preparing for weighty legal engagements regarding corruption, accountability complaints, and potentially historic political prosecutions in the next two years. The administration cannot afford a DOJ viewed as either weak or politically vindictive. Abalos’ reputation, the group argues, may offer an even keel between legal sternness and political self-restraint. 

Leni as transportation head?

The most intriguing and unexpected inclusion on the list is Leni Robredo for the  DOTr. But the choice is probably the most politically savvy. Public transit remains a persistent daily grievance for Filipinos, as frequent train breakdowns, congested thoroughfares, and overcrowded terminals act as constant, physical reflections of the government’s administrative struggles.

Robredo’s track record of transparency and efficient administration could lend credibility to a department whose gains are experienced immediately by commuters. 

Politically speaking, however, the appointment would achieve something far more important. It would show that Marcos Jr. is willing to form a governing coalition beyond traditional political boundaries. As it gears up for the 2028 elections, consolidating anti-Duterte factions has become an urgent requirement for the government. 

The plan to make Ramon Tulfo the Cabinet secretary highlights a recurring issue in the administration: the communication gap. For all its achievements, the government often finds it difficult to emotionally connect its accomplishments to the average citizen. With decades of experience in media and public affairs, the group hopes Tulfo could help Malacañang explain policies in plain, relatable language. 

No-nonsense Trillanes

Tasking Antonio Trillanes IV with the role of Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes would signal the launch of the most forceful crackdown on global syndicates, illicit financial networks, and cross-border corruption. The appointment would also underscore the administration’s desire to demand accountability irrespective of any political consequences. 

Jonvic Remulla heading the MMDA may lack a glamorous appeal, but the role would be highly critical. Traffic in Metro Manila is one of the most conspicuous failures of governance in the country. If Remulla delivers even partial relief to motorists and commuters, he will be able to generate more goodwill among urban voters than endless press conferences and political speeches.

Michael Ted Macapagal, former chairman of the Philippine National Railways (PNR), is reportedly being eyed as BCDA president. This decision demonstrates a  growing shift toward strategic development, infrastructure modernization, and maximizing government assets, particularly in securing funds for high-impact projects and supporting national defense.

The group believes that the BCDA could be a force in the Philippine economy. Macapagal’s extensive experience in the US as corporate executive for several large multinationals before settling in the country is a huge plus. His true potential was under-utilized at his post as rails chairman at the PNR, according to the source. If plans don’t miscarry, he’d be leading a huge AI ecosystem project inside the New Clark City where hundreds of American companies are expected to come in.

Individually, these appointments may appear random and unrelated. Viewed together, they reveal a cohesive and robust political strategy.

The proposed roster gathers reformists, technocrats, communicators, administrators, and opposition figures under one governing banner. It reflects an acknowledgment that a final push is needed to overtake Sara Duterte’s lead in the polls, which has plateaued in recent times. – Rappler.com

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