Leni should endorse Bam or Risa if not running for President, Trillanes suggests

Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo should endorse either Senator Bam Aquino or Senator Risa Hontiveros for the 2028 presidential polls if she is not going to run, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said on Wednesday.

Trillanes made the comment after former Vice President Robredo told a radio station in Bicol that she was running for reelection as Naga's local chief executive.

“Mas maganda nito, ang gawin ni Mayor Leni, kung ayaw na niya tumakbo, i-endorse na niya either si Senator Bam o si Senator Risa para talagang malipat sa kanila iyong suporta,” Trillanes said at the sidelines of the House impeachment proceedings. 

(If she is not seeking national office, she should endorse either Senator Bam or Senator Risa, so the support for Mayor Leni can be transferred to them.) 

Trillanes, however, said the Magdalo Group, to which he belongs, has so far decided to back Hontiveros for President.

“We have evaluated the prospective candidates, and we want to push for Senator Risa for President. She has the qualifications. Tumitindig, lumalaban, ipaglalaban ka,” Trillanes said. 

(She stands for and fights for us.)

“Both of them [Senator Risa and Mayor Leni] are good public servants. Pero ang kaibahan nila, si Mayor Leni, ipaglalaban mo. Si Senator Risa, ipaglalaban ka,” Trillanes said. 

(Mayor Leni is someone you fight for, while Senator Risa fights for you.)

GMA News Online has reached out to Robredo's camp for comment. –NB, GMA News