Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has declared Senator Risa Hontiveros as the strongest and most qualified opposition candidate to go up against Vice President Sara Duterte in the 2028 presidential elections.
In an online interview, Trillanes said he will support Hontiveros over other potential presidential candidates, including Senator Bam Aquino and former Vice President and current Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, insisting she is the only one capable of holding Duterte accountable for her actions.
“Anyway 2028 na ngayon, kailangang manalo iyong kandidato na may balls, ano figuratively, na mapanagot itong mga Duterte na ito,” Trillanes said.
“Ang nakikita ko kasi, sa ngayon is Senator Risa Hontiveros. Bakit niru-rule out ko na si Senator Bam Aquino tsaka si Mayor Leni? Don’t get me wrong, mabubuti silang tao and under peaceful conditions, maaaring they can rule the country well,” he added.
Trillanes praised Hontiveros for consistently standing up to the Dutertes, noting that she has shown the kind of political courage needed in today’s environment.
Trillanes also accused Aquino and Robredo of having close political affiliation with the Dutertes. He cited Aquino’s decision to join the majority bloc, which includes several pro-Duterte senators.
“Si Senator Bam Aquino for example, kasi bakit, ngayon nga, ka-caucus niya, ka-bloc niya iyong mga Duterte bloc. Sa akin hindi ko kaya iyon under any conditions. Gusto ko man nung komite, hindi kaya nung sikmura kong makasama ko sa caucus iyong mga Duterte bloc,” the former Senator said.
“So ibig sabihin, kung okay sa kanya iyon, e di pag nanalo siya okay din lang sa kanya. Because of that, we have to rule him out,” he added.
As for Robredo, Trillanes raised concerns over her personal ties with Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Next, punta tayo kay Mayor Leni. Okay siya, kumbaga maganda iyong saloobin niya. Pero kaibigan niya si Sara Duterte. Remember, pinapasok nga niya sa bahay niya, hinost niya doon. So papaano mo ngayon mapapanagot si Sara kung magpi-presidente si Leni,” he emphasized.
Trillanes further claimed that both Aquino and Robredo had previously expressed to him their opposition to involving the International Criminal Court (ICC) in holding former President Rodrigo Duterte accountable for his alleged crimes against humanity.
“Hindi niya gagawin iyan. And believe me, ayaw nga nila, ayaw nga nila iyong ICC. Both Bam and Leni ayaw nila ng ICC, sinabi nila sa akin iyon. Kung mananalo daw si Leni nung 2022, hindi raw nila ibibigay si Digong sa ICC,” Trillanes claimed.
“Kaya hindi ko sila puwedeng suportahan sa 2028. In fact, kokontrahin ko kasi alam ko hindi aligned iyong agenda namin,” he added.
