Anti-Duterte unity ticket proposed

Trillanes: Marcos, ‘pink’ camps can join forces

MANILA, Philippines — With the Duterte family aiming to return to power, the Marcos administration can unite with non-traditional allies, including the so-called “pink” forces of the independent opposition, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said yesterday.

Trillanes said he has sent a message to the administration about the possibility of uniting with the forces that opposed the return to power of President Marcos.

“We have to set aside sensitivities for a larger cause,” which is “the obliteration of the Duterte forces,” Trillanes told “Storycon” on One News.

“The timing is good. It is a reason to galvanize the unity of all the sectors who are not with the Dutertes. It should be in 2025. We must have unity candidates and absorb all the opposition, the independent opposition,” he added.

Trillanes said he has initiated “exploratory talks” for the administration and the independent opposition to unite.

“We have been reaching out to different personalities involved. Their initial reactions are positive. We just have to sit down with them. I am reaching out to those who are establishing the lists of senatorial candidates for the administration ticket,” Trillanes said.

He said he launched this effort after Vice President Sara Duterte announced last Tuesday that her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and brothers Paolo and Sebastian intend to run for the Senate in 2025.

Sebastian, currently the mayor of Davao City, would also seek the presidency in 2028, the Vice President said. She clarified yesterday, however, that there was still no final decision on this.

Trillanes said he had sent a message about his proposal to the camps of former senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan, but not to former vice president Leni Robredo and former senator Mar Roxas, and so far, not to Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

The past two years have shown that the camps of Marcos and those who opposed his rise to power have more common ground than differences, such as over the West Philippine Sea and economic recovery, Trillanes told Storycon. The main divergence of opinion, he noted, is over Charter change.

Asked if he thought President Marcos might be open to the idea, he said, “We’ll know in a few days. Naparating na natin yung mensahe (We have sent the message).”

“That’s a proposition worth looking into,” Trillanes said. “If I am crucified for thinking of the proposal, OK lang naman sa akin (it’s OK with me).”

If his proposal is pursued, he said a united ticket could be fielded in time for the 2025 midterm elections.

“We have already sent messages to the inner circles of some of these candidates,” Trillanes said. “There has to be a consensus… We are calling on them… If the pink forces can see that it can be done, if the Marcos forces can see that this will be the easiest way to finally ease out the Duterte forces.”

He added: “It is in the interest of the Marcos administration and the independent candidates to join forces. Otherwise, they will be weakened.”

Trillanes, who is expected to run for mayor of Caloocan City in 2025, said the Vice President’s announcement of her family’s political plans could galvanize the anti-Duterte forces to unite.

Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday welcomed the plans of former president Duterte and his sons to run for senator in 2025, saying it is part of the democratic process.

Romualdez said it is the “democratic right” of the Dutertes to seek an elective post.

Asked about his own plans in 2025, the Speaker noted that he intends to seek reelection as the representative of the first district of Leyte in the House.

He added there are still many things that he wants to do for his district.

‘Duterte Magic’

The announcement of the Vice President that three Dutertes will run for the Senate proves that the “Duterte Magic” continues, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said, noting that the other candidates are panicking.

“You thought that the Duterte Magic is gone. Everybody is panicking over the announcement that the three Dutertes will run as senator in 2025,” Roque said.

The Vice President also said that in 2028, she will probably run for mayor of Davao City.

The Duterte brothers are reportedly bent on landing Senate seats. Paolo is on his third term as congressman while Baste is on his second term as Davao City mayor.

“Our fellow Filipinos are excited on having Dutertes in the Senate. Some would say that the term of Duterte has already ended and let’s move on. You cannot blame the public as during the time of Duterte, there was peace and order in the community,” Roque said.

‘Exciting times ’

Next year’s midterm elections are going to be exciting with three Dutertes seeking a Senate seat, according to former presidential chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo.

“We are in exciting times. The countdown has begun,” Panelo said. “The exciting new political ballgame spawned by the departure of VP Sara from the Marcos Cabinet has been expanded by the entry of the Dutertes in the Senate race and adds luster to it.

“Three Dutertes running for the Senate in 2025 is a political storm that their detractors and those undeservingly clinging to power will not be able to contain and survive,” Panelo said.

“The Dutertes will be the demolition team that will dismantle the vested political structures built by those who turned their backs on the people’s welfare and interest and who focused on enriching themselves in office and transgressing the constitutional rights of individuals and entities,” he added.

Despite the human rights violation cases the elder Duterte is facing, many Filipinos are still yearning for his brand of leadership, Panelo claimed.

The Dutertes have the right to seek whatever elective position they want, Senate President Francis Escudero said on Wednesday.

“It is their right to run for any position in the upcoming election and the right of our countrymen to choose who they want to serve in any position in the government,” Escudero said.

The Senate President said the announcement would signal the start of politicking for the 2025 midterm elections. – Sheila Crisostomo, Bella Cariaso, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Diana Lhyd Suelto