Trillanes to run as independent VP in 2016

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday revealed that he will run as an independent vice presidential candidate for the 2016 national elections.

Trillanes, a member of the Nacionalista Party (NP), said that his decision to run for a higher post is not a personal one.

"It's a collective decision of our group, Magdalo. It's always been like that. People would probably see me as an individual but we're one and the same," Trillanes said in an interview with ANC's Headstart.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who are also members of the NP, are also speculated to run for a higher position in the 2016 polls.

READ: 3 members of NP eyeing 2016 race

Trillanes said that the NP will not make an endorsement if two or more of its members will run as vice president.

"That's the leadership style of the Nacionalista Party under Sen. Manny Villar and everybody appreciates that. Nobody is forced being something that they don't really want," Trillanes said.

Trillanes, however, admitted that he is not confident that he will win the vice presidency.

"Based on our own internal polling, I'm way behind Sen. Chiz Escudero but we have a formula on how to win the people. We did it in two national elections with limited resources, we'll see," the senator said.

He added that his group, Magdalo, would support Sen. Grace Poe if ever she decides to seek the presidency in 2016.

"I recognize that Sen. Grace and Sen. Chiz have come a long way back in the 2013 elections and I'm just coming in right now," Trillanes said.

The senator sees Poe and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas as the frontrunners in the presidential race.

He believes that Vice President Jejomar Binay would still back out from the presidential race next year.