Manila, Philippines – Senatorial aspirant Antonio Trillanes IV calls out voters to choose him this 2022 national elections for him to block the passage of a potential mandatory military service being pushed by Vice President Inday Sara Duterte.  Trillanes issued his concern over the said mandate because he argues that the proposal “is wrong in so many levels".

The former military serviceman Antonio Trillanes released a statement opposing the plan of Vice President Sara Duterte. In the said press release from the former infamous senator, VP Sara Duterte allegedly “shows her lack of understanding on national security matters." 

One might argue that Trillanes suddenly has the nerve to question the intent of VP Sara Duterte knowing that he himself was in hot waters during his course of action versus China when he became the person who allegedly initiated a backdoor conversation with the Chinese government during the term of Ninoy Aquino. Many netizens dismissed the reactions of Trillanes while others are also making fun of the Senator’s alleged press release statement against VP Inday Sara.

The viral post below recently turned into a source of Trillanes memes. The caption also cited the failed ‘Oakwood mutiny’ back in 2003.

Binatikos ni senatorial aspirant Antonio Trillanes IV ang mungkahing mandatory military service ni Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Ani Trillanes, ipinapakita nito na kulang ang alkalde sa pag-unawa sa mga isyu ng pambansang seguridad, at puro “power tripping” tulad ng kaniyang ama.

Matatandaang dating lieutenant si Trillanes ng Philippine Navy, at namuno sa Oakwood mutiny noong 2003 bilang protesta sa umano’y korapsyon ni dating pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

 Ang tanong – sa iyong pananaw, kanais nais ba ang pangarap ni Antonio Trillanes na manalo sa Senado para lang hadlangan ang anumang plano ni Vice President Sara Duterte hinggil sa mandatory military service para sa bansand Pilipinas?

Bago mo ito sagutin, nais po namin ilathala ang kaukulang paliwanag ni VP Sara hinggil sa mga sari-saring reactions mula sa iba-ibang partido na tumutuligsa sa kanyang balak para sa ikabubuti ng ating bansa. Narito ang kanyang pahayag.

If only Walden Bello wasn’t so quick to jump the gun, he would know that my vision was not only to push for mandatory military service for the youth.

And an 18-year-old is definitely not a child.

 

Only the likes of Mr. Bello would think of mandatory military service for its citizens as arming them and telling them to kill — instead of looking at it as something that inspires patriotism in the youth.

 

If only he wasn’t so quick to react, he would have realized that I also emphasized the need for the youth to be prepared for disasters and become proactive community partners in rescue operations and in aiding victims of calamities.

 

The youth, I also said, should also play active roles in advancing their own welfare — particularly in the aspect of health, education, gender equality, and reproductive issues. I wanted them to be able to stand on their own, help themselves, help the communities, and help the nation.

 

If only Mr. Bello did not stop at what he has been so stuck in over the past many years — dictatorship in the Philippines, something that we know is a lie in the present time — he would have a better understanding of what I truly stand for.

 

The obsession over dictatorship in this country is as ancient as the belief that the youth have no actual important role in building a nation that is progressive and peaceful.

 

I truly hope that our youth do not grow up to be a Walden Bello — an ungrateful citizen who sleeps peacefully in the comfort of their homes, unable to say a prayer or a silent ‘thank you’ to the men and women who became martyrs while countering violent extremism, insurgency, and terrorism.”