CinemaBravo

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV once again voiced his disapproval of Senator Bam Aquino and former Vice President Leni Robredo—now Naga City Mayor—for their shared position against allowing the International Criminal Court (ICC) to intervene in holding former President Rodrigo Duterte accountable for alleged crimes against humanity.

In an interview on One News’ Storycon, Trillanes recalled their position during the 2022 campaign, saying: “During the course of the campaign, they said their position on the ICC was that they would not recognize its jurisdiction and that they would not surrender Digong to the ICC if Leni became president.”

His remarks follow an earlier jab at Robredo for hosting Vice President Sara Duterte in her Naga City home back in 2024, a move Trillanes publicly disapproved of.

Trillanes said he could not support either Aquino or Robredo in the 2028 presidential election, choosing instead to place his trust in Senator Risa Hontiveros, whom he called the strongest and most qualified opposition candidate for president.

Trillanes believes Hontiveros is the only one capable of holding Duterte accountable for her actions.

“Anyway, 2028 na ngayon, kailangang manalo iyong kandidato iyong kandidato na may balls, ano figuratively, na mapanagot itong mga Duterte na ito. Ang nakikita ko kasi, sa ngayon is Senator Risa Hontiveros,” Trillanes said.

(Anyway, it’s already 2028—we need a candidate who has the balls, figuratively speaking, to make the Dutertes answer for their actions. As I see it, that person is Senator Risa Hontiveros.)

Trillanes also insisted that Robredo and Vice President Sara Duterte are close friends and allies.

“Kaibigan niya si Sara Duterte. Remember, pinapasok nga niya sa bahay niya, hinost niya doon. So papaano mo ngayon mapapanagot si Sara kung magpi-presidente si Leni,” he said.

(She’s friends with Sara Duterte. Remember, she even let her into her home, she hosted her there. So how could Leni hold Sara accountable if she became president?)

As for Aquino, Trillanes alleged that the senator had asked him to delay the release of an arrest warrant against Duterte, insisting that it would negatively affect Robredo’s presidential campaign.

He also pointed to Aquino’s decision to join the Senate majority bloc as further evidence of the senator’s political alliance with Duterte allies.

“Si Senator Bam Aquino for example, kasi bakit, ngayon nga, ka-caucus niya, ka-bloc niya iyong mga Duterte bloc. Sa akin hindi ko kaya iyon under any conditions. Gusto ko man nung komite, hindi kaya nung sikmura kong makasama ko sa caucus iyong mga Duterte bloc,” Trillanes said in a separate interview.

(Take Senator Bam Aquino for example—he’s now caucusing with the Duterte bloc. I personally cannot accept that under any conditions. Even if I wanted the committee, my conscience couldn’t handle being in the same caucus as the Duterte bloc.)