Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque denied news of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s reported planned political comeback as a Senator.

Roque squarely places the blame on former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, accusing him of allegedly spreading the news of the former president’s possible senatorial bid. This highlights the intense political dynamics and the role of shaping the narrative key players.

The former U.P. professor says Trillanes wants the spotlight, seeing that the candidacy filing is in October 2024.

Trillanes IV says Duterte is mulling a political return via the Senate to help boost his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte’s, chances in the presidential polls in 2028. Based on several commissioned and non-commissioned surveys, Sara’s ratings have been starting to nosedive since March of this year.

Duterte also desires legislative immunity since there are some speculations that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will initiate arrest proceedings against the former president accused of masterminding the bloody anti-drugs campaign which resulted in an estimated 18,000 deaths during the tumultuous Duterte administration.

Trillanes predicted Duterte’s possible arrest in June or July following the conclusion of the preliminary probe conducted by the ICC in The Agenda last February. Aside from the elder Duterte, news that even the Vice president Sara is to be arrested and jailed at the Hague for her role in planning the alleged anti-drugs campaign.