IF he had his way, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV would rather want to see Vice President Leni Robredo run for president in time for next year’s presidential election, even as he hinted at gunning for the top elective national post if she declines.
Trillanes, who has already met with members of the newly launched coalition 1Sambayan, however, remains optimistic that Robredo would seriously consider heeding the public clamor for her to take the challenge.
“I qualified at the start of the interview. I said that the opposition is solidly behind and united behind the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo for President. So, any scenario of the Vice President withdrawing her candidacy is the only condition that I’d entertain entering the presidential derby,” he Trillanes said.
The senator, however, maintained that Robredo has bigger chances of winning next year’s elections.
“In terms of qualification, definitely she’s highly qualified and we believed she’s the most winnable candidate in the opposition. That’s why we are pushing her [and] we are assuring her we would be with her in this fight for the presidency in 2022,” he added.
The 1Sambayan, which is led by the country’s former high-ranking officials, is looking to endorse a candidate who has a clean track record, an upright stand on key issues and platforms that address current problems.
The coalition had already met some possible candidates, including Robredo, Trillanes, Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay.
Trillanes, likewise, dismissed surveys showing high public approval rating.
“We are conducting our own internal polling. His numbers are significantly down and continues to decline at a very steep rate,” the former senator said as he challenged Duterte to push through with what he claimed is a plan that would see the President’s daughter teaming up with her dad in next year’s elections.
“I encourage them to do that. They have every right to do that. In fact, ideally, I would want them to be rejected in [the] 2022 elections. So, it’s even preferable for Mr. Duterte to run for Vice President or Sara Duterte to run for President. We’re looking forward to that rejection, to their rejection in 2022,” he quipped.