Trillanes opposes abortion, death penalty

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial aspirant Antonio Trillanes IV is not in favor of abortion and death penalty.

“Hindi po, hindi rin tayo naniniwala diyan sa abortion. ‘Yung mga lobbyist ng abortion, dinadala nila sa mga extreme argument, extreme situation. Like kunyari, nakasalalay ‘yung buhay nung nanay, kailangang ma-abort ‘yung bata. Meron na pong medical protocol, established na po iyan,” he said on RMN DZXL’s Usapang LOL on Sunday.

(No, I do not believe in abortion. The lobbyists of abortion, they put it in extreme arguments or situations. Like, for instance, the life of the mother is at stake and the baby must be aborted. We already have a medical protocol for that, that is already established.)

However, he said that abortion could be limited to rape cases, but generally, he is against the move.

“Now, for ‘yung sinasabi nila na rape argument – kung na-rape daw ba, pwede i-abort? Kung ganyang extreme situations, ako, ibabalik natin sa taumbayan, then let the advocates argue. Pero ‘yun lang, even mag-decide ang taumbayan na pwede iyan, sige, okay iyan pero hindi pwedeng palalawakin iyan,” he said.

(Now, for the rape cases, if it could be aborted? In that extreme situation, I will return the decision to the public, then let the advocates argue. But, even if the public decides that it is allowed, it cannot be expanded.)

“Kasi alam mo dito sa Pilipinas, magbigay ka ng loophole na ganyan, suddenly papasukan na ng lahat. Kumbaga, those are very extreme situations and kailangang ibalik sa taumbayan ‘yung pagdedesisyon niyan. But personally, hindi tayo, in general,” the former senator further explained.

(Because here in the Philippines, if you give one loophole like that, other loopholes will follow. Those are very extreme situations and the public should decide for it. But personally, no in general.)

Meanwhile, Trillanes also said that he is against death penalty as a person’s life is not for humans to judge and cited the country’s shortcomings in the justice system.

“Hindi po tayo naniniwala sa death penalty. I believe hindi dapat nasa kamay ng tao ang pagdedesisyon ng buhay, ang paghuhusga na ang kapalit po ay buhay. Ayan po ano, without even mentioning ang kakulangan ng ating justice system. Dito, ang laki po ng probability na husgahan ka, kahit ikaw ay inosenteng tao. Lalo na kung mahirap ka ano. Napakalabo ng tiyansa mo,” he expounded.

(I do not believe in death penalty. I believe that the judgment of a person’s life is not on the hands of a person. That, without even mentioning  our lacking justice system. Here, there is a high probability that a person would judge you even though you’re innocent. Especially if you are poor, your chances are low.)

“Kung gusto talaga nating retribution or maalis sa kapakahamakan iyong tao, dun sa isang criminal, mayroon naman pong life imprisonment. If may tiyansa pa po na i-rehabilitate ‘yung rehabilitation process ng penal system natin, iyon dapat,” added Trillanes.

(If we want retribution or to alleviate harm from a criminal, there is life imprisonment. If there is still a chance to rehabilitate the process of our penal system, that should be done.)

Trillanes, running under the slate of presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo, pledged to continue his anti-corruption and governance reforms advocacy in the upper chamber of Congress.

RELATED STORIES

Trillanes: Duterte’s claim of fulfilled campaign promises ‘a big lie’

WATCH: INQside Look with former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV

je