Trillanes calls on Filipinos not to vote for Duterte's slate in 2019 elections

Weeks before the start of the filing of the certificates of candidacy for the 2019 midterm elections and with possible names of candidates being floated, opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Saturday urged Filipinos not to vote for candidates on President Rodrigo Duterte's slate.

As he claimed to have uncovered Duterte and his family's alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade and in smuggling, Trillanes said people can do something to stop his "corrupt" and "dictatorial" ways from perpetuating.

"Meron silang way to do that—itong upcoming elections. Gusto niyong bawian si Mr. Duterte? Gusto niyo baguhin 'yung kanyang mga polisiya? I-zero niyo 'yung mga kandidato niya," the senator said in a press conference at the Senate.

"'Wag niyo iboto kasi ipagpapatuloy lang ang mga kalokohan niya," he said.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III has so far submitted to Duterte the names of 24 individuals the ruling PDP-Laban is considering to include in its 12-person senatorial slate for the May 2019 senatorial elections. 

Aside from Pimentel, those on the list are Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go; Secretary Francis Tolentino; Representative Karlo Alexei Nograles; Representative Zajid "Dong" Mangudadatu; Representative Geraldine Roman; Representative Monsour del Rosario; singer Freddie Aguilar; former news anchor Jiggy Manicad; Representative Alfredo "Albee" Benitez; and Representative Dakila Carlo "Dax" Cua.

From outside the party, the PDP-Laban can recruit "friends" such as Duterte's daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte; Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa; actor Robin Padilla; former Senator Lito Lapid; former Secretary Rafael Alunan; columnist Ramon Tulfo; presidential spokesperson Harry Roque; and Representative Pia Cayetano.

Five reelectionist senators who belong to the majority coalition were also mentioned, namely  Senators Cynthia Villar, Juan Edgardo Angara, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Grace Poe, and Nancy Binay.

Apart from not voting for Duterte's candidates, people should be vigilant as "slowly nawawala na ang ating freedom so nasa sa kanila 'yan kung gusto nila magpaalipin sa isang hari ng drug lord," Trillanes said.

"Being a member of opposition, kailangan ko ilabas 'yung dapat ilabas para mamulat 'yung tao. Ang tao ang magde-decide kung ano ang gagawin nila diyan." —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News