FORMER Senator Antonio Trillanes IV believed that only Senator Risa Hontiveros could match Vice President Sara Duterte in the 2028 presidential elections.
Hontiveros is the opposition’s strongest bet ahead of Senator Bam Aquino and former Vice President and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, Trillanes said in an interview on the Facts First podcast.
She stands out for her consistent and fearless stance against the Duterte administration—qualities he believes are essential in today’s political climate.
“For now, the most viable candidate I see is Senator Risa,” said Trillanes.
“Senator Bam Aquino and Mayor Leni Robredo are good people and could govern well under peaceful conditions. But that’s not the world we live in. We need someone who can stand firm—and Risa has proven that.”
Hontiveros had earlier said she remains politically aligned with Aquino and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, despite their move to the Senate majority bloc.
However, Trillanes said he could not support Aquino’s decision to align with senators associated with the Duterte camp.
Trillanes also raised concerns about Robredo’s personal ties with Vice President Duterte, referencing her meeting with Duterte in Naga City last year.
“If Leni hosted Sara as a friend, how can she now hold her accountable?” he questioned.
He further revealed that both Robredo and Aquino had expressed reservations about prosecuting former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court—another reason, he said, that their platforms no longer align.
As of posting time, neither Aquino nor Robredo has responded to requests for comment.
