Dream on, Palace tells Trillanes on prexy bid

MANILA – Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is free to dream about becoming the country’s next president, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this statement after Trillanes announced his intention to run for president in 2022.

Trillanes, however, said he is willing to step aside should Vice President Leni Robredo run for President before 1Sambayan picks its nominees in July.

“Libre po mangarap so hayaan po nating pangarap na maging Presidente si dating Senador Trillanes. Karapatan po niya ‘yan bilang isang Pilipino (He is free to dream so let’s allow former Senator Trillanes to dream. It’s his right as a Filipino),” Roque said in a press briefing at PTV-4.

Roque expressed doubts over Trillanes’ intent to run for the highest position in the land since Robredo has yet to decide on her possible political plans for the 2022 elections.

“Mukhang di naman siya makakatakbo dahil nilinaw po ni Vice President Leni na tatakbo pa rin siya at least nandiyan pa rin yung plano (It looks like he won’t be able to run as president since Vice President Leni clarified that she is still open to a 2022 presidential run),” he added.

He also rejected Trillanes’ remark that he wanted to run for president because the country’s democracy and survival is at stake.

“Wala pong katuturan yung sinasabi niya na survival dahil wala pong issue na hindi po tayo magwawagi laban sa Covid-19 at wala pong kahit na anong banta sa ating mga institusyon na demokrasya (What he is saying about survival is meaningless because there is no issue that we will not win against Covid-19 and there is no threat to our democratic institutions),” Roque said.

Roque shrugged off Trillanes’ plan to hold Duterte accountable for killings linked to the administration’s drug war, should he win as president in the 2022 elections.

“Kung meron po siyang kasong maihahain, dapat ihain na niya. Ang problema kay Senator Trillanes, dakdak din ng dakdak. Kasi kung meron po talaga siyang ebidensya na meron pinapatay ang Presidente, dapat hinain na niya po ngayon (If he has a case to file, he should file it. The problem with Senator Trillanes is he keeps on talking. If he has proof that the President ordered anyone’s killing, he should file a case now),” he said.

He said Trillanes may file cases as Duterte’s immunity from suit would only last during his tenure.

“Wala naman siyang kahit anong kasong hinain limang taon na. So kung wala siyang nahain sa limang taon, hindi ko po alam kung paano siya magkakaroon ng kaso matapos ang anim na taon (He didn’t file any case in five years. So if he wasn’t able to do it in five years, I don’t know how he will be able to do in six years),” he said.

He also reiterated that Duterte has never directed authorities to “kill” suspects in illegal drug operations.

“Wala pong polisiya na magpapatay ang ating Presidente. Siya po’y dating piskal na siyang lumitis sa paglabag ng Revised Penal Code kasama na po diyan ang krimen ng pagpapatay or murder (The President has no policy to kill. He is a former prosecutor who tries violations in the Revised Penal Code, including the crime of murder),” he said.

Duterte has repeatedly defended his administration’s crackdown on illegal drugs, saying he was elected precisely to eliminate the narcotics trade as part of his campaign promise.

On Wednesday, Trillanes said what pushed him to announce his candidacy are reports that Robredo has transferred her residence to prepare for her plan to run as governor of Camarines Sur.

Robredo’s spokesperson, Barry Gutierrez said Robredo has not come up with a decision regarding her political plans but denied that she is making preparations to run for Camarines Sur governor.

He said she is focused on helping Filipinos through the Covid-19 crisis.