MANILA, Philippines — Veteran broadcaster Korina Sanchez-Roxas has revealed that calls for her to enter politics have been coming for years, and this time, she is not completely shutting the door on the possibility.
But despite renewed speculation over a possible Senate run in the 2028 Philippine elections, Sanchez has stopped well short of declaring herself a candidate.
Speaking to reporters during TV5’s Tara, Kapatid! 2026 Midyear Media and Trade Celebration, Sanchez acknowledged that entering politics is something she has considered for a long time.
“Actually, matagal na akong may plano, dati-dati pa. Napipigilan parati. Palagay ko mapipigilan na naman ako,” Sanchez said, according to PEP.ph.
She added that numerous people have encouraged her to seek public office, but emphasized that making the leap into politics would require serious thought.
“Lahat sila gusto akong tumakbo. Pero mahirap na,” she said.
The remarks are significant because Sanchez, one of the Philippines’ most recognizable television personalities, has repeatedly been linked to politics because of both her long career covering national affairs and her marriage to former senator and presidential candidate Mar Roxas.
Korina Sanchez raises a warning about money and politics
Sanchez also offered a sharp assessment of what can happen to politicians after entering government.
She suggested that some public officials may begin their careers with legitimate intentions but eventually become distracted by money and personal interests.
“Marami namang may sense, sa una. Tapos nawawala bigla yung sense,” Sanchez said.
She followed it with a play on words, saying that “sense” can eventually become “pesos,” “millions,” “billions” and “dollars.”
Her comments appeared to underline one of the dilemmas she sees in entering government: public service may offer an opportunity to create change, but political power also brings pressures and temptations.
This is not the first time Korina has considered politics
The possibility is not entirely new.
Previous reports have documented Sanchez saying that she had considered entering politics before but did not believe it was necessary while Roxas himself was actively serving in government.
In 2024, speculation also circulated that Sanchez might seek a Senate seat, although no candidacy materialized.
More recently, reports from the TV5 media event quoted Sanchez as saying her political plans had repeatedly been postponed or prevented.
Pilipino Star Ngayon and Pang-Masa carried similar accounts of her remarks, strengthening the basic reporting that Sanchez has indeed contemplated seeking public office.
However, there is currently no official announcement that she will run for senator—or for any other position—in 2028.
Claims circulating that Sanchez is supposedly performing strongly or even “leading” in a senatorial survey should also be treated cautiously unless accompanied by the name of a polling organization, fieldwork dates, sample size and published results.
For now, the verifiable story is that she is being encouraged to run and is considering the possibility.
Mar Roxas, meanwhile, appears reluctant to return
Interestingly, while Sanchez is leaving the political door slightly open, her husband appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
Roxas, who previously served as senator, trade secretary, transportation secretary and interior secretary before running for president in 2016, is reportedly no longer eager to return to electoral politics.
“Ayaw na niya,” Sanchez said in an earlier PEP interview.
She explained that Roxas remains interested in public service but would only consider a role that made sense for him.
“Gusto niya ng public service, but it has to be the right position,” she said.
Sanchez also said positions have apparently been offered to Roxas, although neither she nor the reports identified a specific government post he had formally accepted or was preparing to accept.
That distinction is important: interest from political figures or informal offers are not the same as an appointment or a confirmed return to government.
Sanchez points to Roxas’ MSME record
During her discussion of her husband’s record, Sanchez highlighted legislation supporting micro, small and medium enterprises.
Official Senate records confirm that Roxas authored Senate Bill No. 1646 during the 14th Congress, which eventually became Republic Act No. 9501, or the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
The measure strengthened government assistance for MSMEs, increased the required share of bank lending portfolios allocated to smaller businesses and expanded the authorized capital of the Small Business Corporation.
The law became one of Roxas’ notable economic-policy measures in the Senate.
However, the legislation should not be interpreted as guaranteeing that every small-business owner can automatically secure a collateral-free commercial bank loan. Banks still evaluate borrowers under applicable lending rules and credit requirements.
From television journalist to possible candidate?
A Sanchez candidacy would immediately attract national attention.
She has spent decades in Philippine broadcasting, building her reputation through news, public affairs and magazine programs beginning with Balitang K, later Rated K, and now Rated Korina.
Rated Korina began airing on TV5 on August 9, 2026, while Sanchez also continues to host the reformatted Face to Face with Ate Koring.
That long television career gives Sanchez something political newcomers typically spend years trying to build: nationwide name recognition.
But name recognition does not automatically translate into candidacy—or victory.
The 2028 elections remain nearly two years away, political alliances could change dramatically, and Sanchez herself continues to speak about entering politics as a possibility rather than a settled decision.
For now, the veteran journalist finds herself in an unusual position.
After spending decades questioning politicians, interviewing public officials and telling the stories of ordinary Filipinos, Korina Sanchez may eventually have to decide whether she wants to cross to the other side of the microphone.
And with 2028 approaching, the bigger question is no longer whether people have asked her to run.
It is whether she will finally say yes.
Leave a Reply