MANILA—Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo should consider endorsing either Senator Bam Aquino or Senator Risa Hontiveros for the 2028 presidential elections if she decides not to run for national office.

In a report, Trillanes made the remark after Robredo, a former vice president, told a Bicol radio station that she intends to seek reelection as mayor of Naga City.

“Mas maganda nito, ang gawin ni Mayor Leni, kung ayaw na niya tumakbo, i-endorse na niya either si Senator Bam o si Senator Risa para talagang malipat sa kanila iyong suporta,” Trillanes said at the sidelines of the House impeachment proceedings.

(If she is not seeking national office, she should endorse either Senator Bam or Senator Risa, so the support for Mayor Leni can be transferred to them.)

Trillanes also said his group, the Magdalo Group, has already decided to support Hontiveros in a possible presidential bid.

“We have evaluated the prospective candidates, and we want to push for Senator Risa for President. She has the qualifications. Tumitindig, lumalaban, ipaglalaban ka,” he said.

(She stands for and fights for us.)

He added that both Robredo and Hontiveros are strong public servants but drew a distinction between them.

“Both of them [Senator Risa and Mayor Leni] are good public servants. Pero ang kaibahan nila, si Mayor Leni, ipaglalaban mo. Si Senator Risa, ipaglalaban ka,” Trillanes said.

(Mayor Leni is someone you fight for, while Senator Risa fights for you.)