MANILA, Philippines — Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV announced on Thursday his intention to run for vice president in 2016.
Trillanes made this declaration during a weekly forum in the Senate when asked about his low ranking in the latest Pulse Asia survey.
READ: Binay still leads Pulse Asia presidential poll; Duterte enters top 5
He said his low ranking in the presidential survey was “irrelevant” since he was not running for president anyway.
“Vice president ang tatakbuhan natin (I am running for vice president),”said the senator.
READ: Trillanes: I will run for a higher position in 2016
Trillanes made it clear though that it was just his “personal preference” and he would submit to the decision of his group, which is the Nacionalista Party (NP).
“This is my personal decision. Wala pa ‘yung party decision. The party decision will come much later,” he said.
“I’m expressing my personal preference. (As I said), I will submit to the party decision,” the senator added.
The NP, he said, will hold preliminary discussions before the end of April and would make a decision probably in the middle of the year.
Trillanes said among the options of the party would be to field its own standard-bearer in 2016, form a coalition with the Liberal Party or any other groups, and adopt an independent candidate.
Asked who he thinks would be his strongest contender in the vice presidential race, Trillanes said: “Marami dyan. Maraming mas masikat pa sa atin —sina Escudero, baka sina Duterte (There are a lot. There are those who are more popular than I am—like Escudero and Duterte)…”
He was referring to Senator Franciz “Chiz” Escudero and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is now being floated as a possible presidential bet in 2016.
“Even si Vice President (Jejomar) Binay baka umulit,” the senator added.
Binay though has publicly declared his presidential bid in 2016. He is also the leading candidate based on various surveys.
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