By Deighton Acuin and Archie Villaflores

PHOTO: Philippine Star

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday challenged President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run as tandem in 2022 national elections — for them to see defeat.

Trillanes said he is looking forward to the defeat of the Dutertes in the upcoming elections id they will decide to file candidacy as President and Vice President.

Moreover, Trillanes added the popularity of President Duterte is going down according to an “internal polling.”

“I’d encourage them to do that, and they have every right to do that and in fact ideally I would want them to be rejected in the 2022 elections. So it’s even preferable for Mr. Duterte to run for vice president, for Sara Duterte to run for president. We are looking forward to that rejection, to their rejection in 2022,” Trillanes said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

“I disagree with the premise that he is still acceptable because we are conducting our own internal polling and his numbers are significantly down and continuously declining at a very steep rate,” the former senator added.

Furthermore, he noted the political opposition could have more chances to win in the 2022 polls because of the so-called frustration felt by the public under Duterte government.

“I think the big difference is the change in political times. You can feel it everywhere. There is so much frustration, disappointment, and disgust with the current administration, so the clamor for change would ring louder and louder as we get closer to the 2022 elections and that is going to be the turning point,” Trillanes said.

The calls for Duterte-Duterte came after Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo floated during his daily documentary the possibility of having the tandem in the next elections.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, said the Chief Executive is looking forward for ending his tenure and returning to Davao City in 2022.


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