Trillanes OK with VP Leni's talks with other camps, just not with Ping, Gordon

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday emphasized that while he is not against Vice President Leni Robredo's exploratory talks with other camps for the 2022 elections, the latter should not be talking with President Rodrigo Duterte's "collaborators."

Trillanes, a staunch critic of the Duterte administration, specifically mentioned Senators Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Richard Gordon.

"Hindi rin kami against sa exploratory talks sa iba’t ibang grupo para mas lumaki ang hanay ng opposition. Kahit na hindi rin kami konsultahin bago ito gawin ay okay sa amin. Pero, this is based on the assumption na alam nila VP Leni ang mga non-negotiables or mga red lines na dapat kinoconsider bago makipag-usap sa iba’t ibang tao o grupo," Trillanes said in a lengthy statement posted on Facebook.

(We are not against exploratory talks with other camps to widen the opposition's reach. It's okay even if VP Leni's camp will not consult us. However, this is based on the assumption that VP Leni knows the "red lines" that should be considered before talking to other camps.)

"Hindi dapat nakikipag-usap sa mga Duterte collaborators or those complicit sa mga krimen ni Duterte gaya nina Senators Lacson and Gordon," he added.

(We should not be talking to Duterte collaborators or those complicit in Duterte's crimes, including Senators Lacson and Gordon.)

The former senator recalled that Lacson chaired the committee hearing that presented bogus witnesses to pin down opposition lawmaker Leila de Lima and was the principal author of the Anti-Terror Law, which, according to Trillanes, is being used to persecute critics of the administration.

Trillanes also said Gordon was the "notorious chairman" who allegedly cleared the President of any involvement over alleged extrajudicial killings and other allegations of corruption.

"Si Gordon naman ang notorious chairman ng committee de absuelto na nag-whitewash sa EJK and corruption investigations that cleared Duterte of any involvement," he said.

Sought for comment, Lacson just said "not worth my time."

GMA News Online also reached out to Gordon but has yet to receive a reply.

Isko Moreno, Grace Poe

Trillanes, meanwhile, said it would be better for the Vice President to talk to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Grace Poe, adding that one of  these two could actually be Robredo's runningmate.

"Sina Mayor Isko at Sen. Grace Poe ay mga independent kaya pwede pa silang kausapin for the sake of coalition building. Pero, again, dapat ang usapan lang ay limited sa pag-atras nila in favor of VP Leni. Otherwise, out ulit kami," he said.

The former lawmaker also said he would not run as Robredo's running mate once the latter decides to seek the presidency in the coming elections.

"Pwede rin pag-usapan kung mag-VP sila kay VP Leni. Para maliwanag lang, kung tatakbo si VP Leni,  hindi po ako tatakbong VP nya kasi naniniwala ako na dapat ang ka-tandem ni VP Leni ay 'yung kandidato na pinakamakakapagbigay ng maraming boto para sa kanya sa pagkapangulo," he said.

(They can also be VP Leni's runningmate. If ever VP Leni would seek the presidency, I will not run as her vice president because he needs a candidate that will help her gain votes to win.)

Trillanes also said Robredo should be the opposition's sole candidate for president in the coming national elections.

"Siya ang makakapag-unite sa lahat ng anti-Duterte forces, at ang may pinakamalaking chance na maipanalo ang opposition sa 2022. Napakaliwanag nito sa hanay ng Magdalo," Trillanes said.

(She can unite all the anti-Duterte forces and there's a huge chance that she will be the instrument for the opposition to win in 2022.)

Trillanes and Robredo were among the six nominees of the opposition coalition 1Sambayan for president and vice president in the coming polls.—AOL, GMA News