MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the staunch critics of President Rodrigo Duterte, is “free to dream” of becoming the country’s next president, Malacañang said Thursday.
Trillanes declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2022, saying he will step aside should Vice President Leni Robredo decide to run as chief executive.
“Una, libre po mangarap so hayaan po nating mangarap na maging presidente si dating senador Trillanes, karapatan niya po yan bilang isang Pilipino,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.
(First, it is free to dream so let former senator Trillanes dream of becoming a president. That’s his right as a Filipino.)
However, Roque thinks Trillanes’ planned presidential bid will not materialize.
“Mukhang hindi naman siya makakatakbo dahil nilinaw po ni Vice President Leni na tatakbo pa rin siya, at least nandyan pa rin yung plano,” he said.
(It looks like he won’t be able to run because Vice President Leni made it clear she will still run or at least there is a plan.)
The Office of the Vice President made it clear that Robredo has yet to come up with a firm decision on her plans for the 2022 elections.
This, after Trillanes said Robredo was preparing to run for governor of Camarines Sur.