'Poorest’ senator Trillanes says cost-efficient ways will help his VP bid

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV fields questions from veteran journalist Malou Mangahas.

When Senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president, he indicated that he is running as an independent candidate.

According to his 2014 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), the soldier-turned-politician is the poorest in the Senate.

With no large political party to back him up, how will the aspiring vice president campaign in the next elections?

Interviewed by veteran editor and journalist Malou Mangahas on GMA News TV’s “Investigative Documentaries” on Thursday, Trillanes said his team has already found cost-efficient ways to run his political campaign.

“Sa amin ho kasi, if you would look at SOCE [statement of contributions and expenditures] namin noong 2007, kami ho ang may pinakamababang nagastos. Noong 2013, ako rin ho ang may pinakamababang nagastos na nanalo. So meron kaming cost-efficient way of campaigning because nga meron kaming volunteer network. So ngayong 2016, ganoon din po ang gagawin namin para makatipid at the same time, effective din naman,” he explained. 

According to Trillanes’ SOCE, spent P4.7 million for his 2005 senatorial run.

Former senator Jamby Madrigal however was recorded to have contributed almost P5 million to his campaign kitty.

His total expenditures reached P9.93 million with P4.2 million as personal expenditures.

In 2013, Trillanes received P29.6 million in contributions. He only shelled out P555,014.77 from his personal account. His total expenditures reached P30.14 million.

When asked if he has a policy on accepting donations, he replied: "Sila na ho mismo ang nagsasabi, tsaka parang they would presume and they should na talagang ganoon lang ho iyon. Tulong lang iyon. Nakikita ho nila ang relevance ko sa ating lipunan, na they would want somebody like me in government who will actually do the things that I do.”

Surveys

Of the top six vice presidential candidates, Trillanes scored the least in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) vice presidential survey conducted from March 2015 to January 2016. He only received a three percent rating.

But the aspirant remains hopeful.

“Ang nakikita ko kasi is fickle-minded ho iyong electorate. Normally, these times, top of mind lang lahat. Kapag tatanungin ang respondents sino ang iboboto n’yo, mag-iisip iyan iyong last na nakita niya advertisement o ano, siguro si ganoon lang,” he said. — APG, GMA News