Trillanes open to not running in Eleksyon 2022, says decision ‘hinges’ on Robredo

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday said he is prepared not to run at all in the coming 2022 elections, reiterating that his final decision would depend on Vice President Leni Robredo.

Trillanes and Robredo are among the six nominees of the opposition coalition 1Sambayan for president and vice president, along with Senator Grace Poe, Representatives Eduardo Villanueva and Vilma Santos-Recto, and lawyer Chel Diokno. 

“My decision to run for any office is hinged on the decision of VP Leni. Now, on the assumption that she gets picked as the presidential nominee of 1Sambayan, then it is her prerogative to choose her running mate,” Trillanes told CNN Philippines.

“I’m prepared not to run at all and just push for her candidacy, but if she would tap me as her running mate, then I’d be ready for it,” he added. “When we submitted ourselves to be part of this coalition, gano’n ‘yun (that’s how it is). Even if it doesn’t go your way, you still have to be supportive, 100%.”

Robredo has yet to decide if she will seek the presidency next year. 

Trillanes earlier underscored that 1Sambayan is the only way for the opposition to secure a victory in 2022. 

Poe open to VP bid?

Meanwhile, Trillanes said Poe is still open to running for vice president despite rejecting her nomination for the presidency. 

“Kaibigan naman po natin si Sen. Grace Poe (She is my friend). Very definitive siya about not running for president but she remains open to run for vice president. Hindi ito parang (This is not) set in stone for her; she’s still weighing her options but for vice president only,” he said.

Santos-Recto has also said that she has no plans for the 2022 elections, while Villanueva’s son, Senator Joel, said it was unlikely that his father would run for president next year.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/RSJ, GMA News