FILE PHOTO: Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (left), and Vice President Leni Robredo (center). INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV called on the opposition not to sacrifice its core principles “at the altar of winnability,” as he continued to warn against engaging in talks with “Duterte collaborators” for the 2022 elections.
“As regards conducting exploratory talks, hindi kami purists pero [we are not purists but let us not sacrifice naman our core principles at the altar of ‘winnability,’” Trillanes said in a Facebook post Monday.
While he was not against Vice President Leni Robredo sitting down with other groups for “exploratory talks” in order to strengthen the ranks of the opposition, the former senator still expressed misgivings about conducting meetings with Senators Panfilo Lacson and Richard Gordon.
Robredo earlier held separate meetings with Lacson and Gordon as part of her “commitment to forge the broadest possible unity among groups and individuals seeking change in 2022.”
Lacson recently confirmed his presidential bid in 2022 while Gordon earlier expressed interest in seeking the presidency.
“[H]indi dapat nakikipag-usap sa mga Duterte collaborators… gaya nina Senators Lacson and Gordon [There should be no talks with Duterte collaborators like Senators Lacson and Gordon],” Trillanes went on.
Trillanes, in criticizing Robredo’s talks with the two senators, pointed to Lacson’s supposed role in the detention of opposition Senator Leila de Lima.
Trillanes also accused Gordon, chairman of the Senate justice committee, of having “white-washed” his panel’s investigation into extra-judicial killings.
“VP Leni needs to believe in herself that she can win, and that all of us are here to help her make it happen. Hindi nya kailangan sina Lacson at Gordon. Madidilute lang ang message of CHANGE ng opposition, which is our biggest campaign weapon in 2022,” the former senator added.
(VP Leni needs to believe in herself that she can win, and that all of us are here to help her make it happen. She doesn’t need Lacson and Gordon. The opposition’s message of CHANGE will be diluted, which is our biggest campaign weapon in 2022.)
He said the opposition is “united” in pushing for Robredo as its standard bearer for 2022.
“Sya ang makakapag-unite sa lahat ng anti-Duterte forces, at ang may pinakamalaking chance na maipanalo ang opposition sa 2022,” Trillanes stressed.
(She will be the one to unite all the anti-Duterte forces and has the biggest chance to bring the opposition to victory in 2022.)
“IT HAS TO BE HER… si VP Leni lang as standard bearer ang basis of unity [VP Leni as the standard bearer is the basis of unity],” he added.
Further, he said there should be “non-negotiables” when Robredo engages in talks with other prospective candidates.
“Dapat walang scenario sa mga usapan na si VP Leni ang aatras in favor of any of these personalities. Kung ang usapan ay tungkol sa pag-atras nila para kay VP, walang problema dun,” Trillanes added.
(There should be no scenario in talks with VP Leni that she will back out in favor of any of these personalities. If these talks are about how they will give way for VP, then there’s no problem with that.)
Leni’s VP
Meanwhile, Trillanes backed a possible coalition with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Grace Poe.
“Pero, again, dapat ang usapan lang ay limited sa pag-atras nila in favor of VP Leni. Otherwise, out ulit kami. Pwede rin pag-usapan kung mag-VP sila kay VP Leni,” he said.
(But again, these talks should be limited to how they will give way in favor of VP Leni, Otherwise, we will withdraw our support. They can also talk about how they can run for VP as VP Leni’s running mate.)
Trillanes said that should Moreno or Poe run as Robredo’s vice president in 2022, he would no longer pursue a vice presidential bid in 2022.
He said Moreno or Poe has a better chance of bringing in votes for Robredo in the coming elections.
“Personal opinion ko lang po ito kasi, ultimately, decision yan ni VP Leni kung sino ang pipiliin nyang VP candidate nya,” Trillanes added.
(This is my personal opinion but ultimately, it will be up to VP Leni’s decision on who she would choose as her VP candidate.)