By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Saying that the 2025 midterm elections are critical to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr.’s political survival, former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV has warned the Chief Executive that the “sycophants” of Vice President Sara Duterte will not rest until she wrests the presidency.

“Itong mga darating na buwan ay kritikal para sa survival ng Marcos administration. ‘Pag umabot ng 2025 at nakuha ng mg Duterte ang mayorya sa Senado, magiging lameduck na sila (Marcoses) at alanganin na sila diyan,” Trillanes said in a press briefing on Sunday (January 21).

The opposition leader noted that as long as VP Duterte remains in office, the PBBM administration hangs in a delicate balance.

“Ilang hakbang na lang pwede na siyang i-impeach anytime at uupo ‘yung anak,” Trillanes said drawing a scenario when pro-Duterte candidates will win as senators and congressmen in 2025.

The former rebel soldier also claimed to have received information that Duterte’s allies unsuccessfully tried to have Marcos Jr. impeached or convince the police and military to withdraw support for the Commander-in-Chief.

“Dalawang kaharian ‘yan, Duterte at Marcos. Isa lang ang trono. Ang nakaupo sa trono ay si Marcos. Ang mga Duterte hindi sanay na wala sa poder kaya talagang maghahangad na makabalik sa pwesto,” Trillanes quipped .

Asked if PBBM will be able to complete his term until 2028, Trillanes replied: “Nasa peligro ang Marcos administration habang ang vice president niya ay si Sara Duterte.”

Political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that Marcos Jr., however, still holds aces up in his sleeve, with the entry of International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators in the country and the possible international arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his daughter “Inday Sara” — monicker of the Vice President — who were both allegedly implicated in the “crimes against humanity” due to extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the course of campaign against illegal drugs.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Apparently ashamed or not wanting to be associated with former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV has revealed that some military officials and personnel have started to remove fist bump photos on social media.

This developed amid rumors of a destabilization move to oust President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr and hand over the presidency to Vice President Sara Duterte.

“According to my AFP contacts, the active officers and EP are now voluntarily deleting their photos na naka-fist salute ni duterte. Either nahihiya na sila or ayaw na maassociate kay duts at baka madamay pa sa destab calls nya. Buti naman!” Trillanes on Sunday, November 26, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The fist bump pose, initially used by Duterte in his 2016 presidential campaign, became popular as a symbol of his tough stance on illegal drugs and crimes.

In a television interview early this month, Trillanes insinuated that FPRRD seemed to support efforts to destabilize the Marcos Jr. administration.

“Duterte has not experienced a life without being in power. He cannot breathe until he has returned to power. Plus the fact that he is under threat by the International Criminal Court. It’s a matter of survival for him and physical freedom. He has the motive to do all these things,” he said during the “The Chiefs” program on November 11.

But on November 16, in his interview with “Facts First” podcast hosted by Christian Esguerra, the former senator directly charged the feisty former chief executive as the brains behind the destabilization efforts against Marcos Jr. that will benefit his daughter VP Sara Duterte if a coup d’etat succeeds.

Trillanes IV, who was once involved on the July 23, 2003, Oakwood mutiny in Makati City against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, noted that the destabilization efforts did not ripen to a coup plot because of the absence of a military component due to the perception among some military officers that FPRRD is pro-China.

“And besides kung si Duterte, ang feedback ha ng mga junior officers atsaka mid-ranking officers ay natu-turn off sila dahil pro-China siya. So they won’t join him. Kasi otherwise, alam nila na ang ending nito is basically letting China in again, similar to what he did from 2016 to 2022,” he disclosed.

However, Trillanes IV still cautioned the PBBM administration not to take lightly the reports that only the retired generals were involved in the destabilization efforts.

He recalled that the so-called “Edsa Dos” that ousted then President Joseph”Erap” Estrada and installed VP Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as acting President was due to the instigation of some retired generals like the late President Fidel V. Ramos and former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa.

(ai/mnm)