Trillanes confident opposition will win 8 Senate seats in 2019 polls

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV expressed confidence Wednesday that the opposition will be able to win eight Senate seats in the 2019 midterm elections over what he claimed as the waning popularity of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Nakikita ko malaki ang tsansa makapanalo mga eight candidates ng oposisyon. Objectively. Pero kung by May next year talagang bulusok na 'tong si Mr. Duterte, ano na 'to, baka ma-sweep pa,” Trillanes said in an interview with reporters.

He admitted that the victory of Resistance Opposition will depend if the voters still want the policy of the administration on Charter change, Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, and killings which the opposition wants to stop.

“Sa opposition naman, gusto natin harangin yung mga polisiyang nakasasama sa interes ng taumbayan. Iyang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin, tatandaan niyo yung TRAIN hanggang  package 4 yata ‘yan. Ang isang agenda ng opposition ay anti-TRAIN, anti-Cha-cha, anti-EJK, anti-misogyny, anti-corruption, anti-expansion ng China sa West Philippine Sea,” he said.

Trillanes said the opposition is now united and they will release the names of their candidates in the coming weeks.

“Maganda-gandang laban ito sa darating na halalan kasi very, very critical ito for our country. Kailangan isuka ng mga botante ‘yung mga kandidato ni Duterte na nanlinlang lang sa kanila,” he said.

Trillanes, who is part of the of the group vetting Senate bets for the opposition, said they now have 14 to 15 names but they will submit less than 12 to Vice President Leni Robredo.

“Ang kino-consider, eight, 10, 12. Ako, sabi ko, it’s either 12 or kung gusto nilang bawasan, 10. Recommendatory lang naman kami eh. The final decision would be kay VP Leni,” he said.

He said they have reserved slots for defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas and former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

“We are reserving a slot for Secretary Mar Roxas. We believe that he will be an asset for the Senate opposition. So tinutulak siya na tumakbo,” he said.

The former senator earlier signified to the Liberal Party that he is not interested to seek an elective post in 2019.

Trillanes said they are letting Sereno go through her own decision-making process.

“Wala pa rin tayong nakukuhang definitive statement from CJ Sereno. Hinahayaan natin siyang dumaan sa kanyang sariling decision-making process. But we are also reserving a slot for her,” he said.

Asked why the opposition is mulling not to field a complete slate, the senator said they are still looking for their logistics and resources but nothing is final yet.

“Kasi ang tinitignan nila ‘yung logistics, ’yung resoruces. But sabi ko nga, lahat ‘yan up in the air. We don't know what’s the inclination of VP Leni. So kami, we will just give her a shortlist that can enable her to fill up the whole slate na maximum 12. But if she feels na 10 lang ifi-field, eh di 10 lang ifi-field. Pero lagpas lagpas ng 12 yung candidates,” he said.

Trillanes further said the opposition will work hard to ensure the victory of its candidates.

“That’s a challenge for us and we will really work double time, triple time to make sure our candidates will win. And ang aming target ay makuha ng oposisyon ang Senado,” he said.

Noynoy to campaign for opposition bets

Former President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday that he would help campaign for the opposition candidates. 

“I plan to help those who have similar views, similar advocacies as I have. Gusto natin magparami ng bilang. Siguro naman dapat tumulong tayo na meron tayong oposisyon na talagang constructive na magpo-provide ng tamang check and balance,” Aquino said during the commemoration of the 35th death anniversary of his father, the late senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr.

“Para makuha ang check and balance dapat may numero at hindi mangyayari ‘yan kung iilan lang ang nasa oposisyon. Trabaho ko na tulungan para magkaroon ng malakas ng boses dito sa lehislatura,” he added.

NPC shortlist

Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Sotto said the National People’s Coalition now have 15 names on their shortlist.

Among the names on the list are re-electionist Senators Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Juan Edgardo Angara, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III; Taguig Representative Pia Cayetano; former senators Jinggoy Estrada and Lito Lapid; Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa; Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go, and two others Sotto refused to name.

Sotto said the talks are still ongoing. —RSJ/KG, GMA News