Trillanes declares vice presidential bid

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday declared his vice presidential bid and reiterated his support for the presidential bid of Sen. Grace Poe.

The Magdalo group endorsed his vice presidential bid yesterday at Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City. 

Trillanes said he is focusing his platform on peace and order, anti-corruption and alleviating poverty.

Poe’s running mate, Sen. Francis Escudero, welcomed Trillanes’ decision to run for vice president, saying Trillanes is “qualified” and “has every right to offer himself for higher office.”

Escudero also said he is not holding any grudge against Trillanes, who is a colleague at the Senate, and has no issue with Trillanes’ decision to support Poe’s presidential bid.

“I thank Senator Trillanes for supporting the presidential candidacy of Sen. Grace in 2016 and for believing that she will be an excellent president,” Escudero said.

“By embracing Sen. Grace’s platform of government, he is one with all of us in our vision for a government that truly cares and genuinely serves the people. This is very much appreciated,” he added.

Escudero wishes Trillanes “all the best” as they contest the second most powerful office in the country.

NP has three VP candidates

Trillanes is one of the three Nacionalista Party (NP) senators vying for vice president but wooing three different presidential candidates.

Another NP stalwart, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, has been in talks with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to tap him as his running mate. Cayetano, with his siblings in tow, went to Davao early this week in a bid to seal the talks with the city mayor.

If talks between another NP stalwart, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Jejomar Binay bear fruit, then Marcos will be Binay’s running mate.

Trillanes said he can run as an independent candidate after he and other NP leaders reached an agreement that the NP will not prevent the three of them from running for the same position.

“It will be free zone for the party because we have many party members running for the same position,” he said.

It was Sen. Cynthia Villar, wife of NP president former senator Manny Villar, who announced last week that NP members seeking to run for similar posts can proceed with their plans. 

She said since it is difficult to choose, the NP is going to support all three candidates.

Cayetano grateful for Duterte’s support

Cayetano is thankful that Duterte has been supportive of the senator’s vice presidential bid in the upcoming national elections.

Cayetano is grateful that the mayor believes in his ability to serve in higher office.

“I join my fellow Filipinos in hoping for the best. Mayor Duterte is a very decisive person, he’s the type of leader who offers concrete solutions to problems and really takes action,” Cayetano said.

“When I announced my candidacy in Davao, I took a step of faith. I told myself that a good partner is really worth waiting for,” he added.

Cayetano said he would remain committed to his goal of pushing for real change and a more inclusive growth throughout the country, whatever happens in the following months preceding the 2016 elections.