📷Ex-Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV
IT is rather weird for a supposed opposition leader to miss the “action” at a time when she is needed most, says former Senator Sonny Trillanes as he took a swipe at former Vice President Leni Robredo whom she referred to as the incognito head of the independent opposition.
In the absence of Robredo, Trillanes finds it more logical for the members of the genuine opposition to pick somebody else – or maybe, somebody like Senator Risa Hontiveros who stood firm on every issue deemed as crucial.
“What the opposition needs now is a leader who is in the thick of things, not someone who is invisible. Hindi pwedeng leader ka nga, nandoon ka, nakatago ka. That is not how a leader should act,” Trillanes said in an interview with Vera Files’ Tres from Tress podcast.
Trillanes, known for his tough stance against corruption during his stint with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, assailed Robredo whom he said is supposed to be lead person of the so-called Pink Movement which served as her political vehicle during the 2022 presidential election.
A founding member of the Magdalo group, Trillanes emphasized the need for Robredo to come out of hibernation amid efforts of former President Rodrigo Duterte to snatch power and control the country anew, with her daughter, now Vice President Sara Duterte calling shots on his behalf.
Aside from the reported power grab being hatched by Duterte, it is also imperative for the former Vice President to stand and speak up in view of political maneuvers primarily designed to keep the Marcoses in power beyond 2028 via Charter Change.
If he had his way, Trillanes said Hontiveros should take the place of Robredo who has gone incognito since losing her presidential bid in 2022.
“In the case of Sen. Risa Hontiveros, talagang she’s in the thick of the action. Pinamumunuan niya kung saan dapat pamunuan. Kaya ‘yun ang gusto nating mga katangian ng isang leader,” Trillanes was quoted as saying in the interview.
To prove his point, Trillanes went as far as enumerating critical issues where Hontiveros was seen in the best form – leading the Senate probe over the illegal activities of now fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy who is facing a long list of criminal cases arising from sexual abuse, fraud, human trafficking and money laundering among others.
He added that it was also Hontiveros’ persistence for which the national government realized that the country is under severe security threat by Chinese sleepers and spies like Bamban Mayor Alice Guo.
But what struck the viewers of the podcast was when Trillanes openly called on Robredo’s supporters to pour their support to Hontiveros “who has all the qualities required of a genuine leader of the independent opposition.”
Trillanes called on the various groups that were part of the Pink Movement or those who helped Robredo’s candidacy in the 2022 presidential elections to be aware and support to Hontiveros as the new leader of the “independent opposition.” (ANGEL F. JOSE)
