Trillanes may seek presidency in 2022 if VP Leni won’t

Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday said he will only consider gunning for the presidency in the 2022 elections if Vice President Leni Robredo decides not to.

Trillanes said he told the 1Sambayan coalition, led by retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, during their meeting that the political opposition will support the possible candidacy of Robredo for president.

“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 said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.

Vice President Leni Robredo  (Photo by Jay Ganzon/OVP)

Trillanes said Robredo is “highly qualified” and is the “most winnable candidate in the opposition” to become president in the next national elections.

 Asked if he considers running for vice president instead, Trillanes replied: “How the convenors said or presented the whole process is it’s going to be the prerogative of the presidential candidate, so it’s up in the air because they have not started the first process which is for the selection of the presidential candidate.”

 Carpio earlier said that the 1Sambayan coalition is currently in talks with prospective candidates that would challenge the current administration in the national elections next year. 

He said that they have already met with some possible candidates, including Robredo, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Sen. Nancy Binay, Sen. Grace Poe, and Trillanes.

Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, former ambassador Albert del Rosario, Bro. Armin Luistro, retired Adm. Rommel Ong, former Commission on Audit head Heidi Mendoza are among the main convenors of the coalition.

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