More than five years after he warned the public of the dangers of electing President Duterte to Malacañang, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday, October 14, is finally elated that Filipinos have been enlightened.

“In a way, natutuwa lang kami na marami nang namumulat (We are just happy that many are now enlightened,” said Trillanes on the Facts First podcast.

The former senator, however, stopped short of saying it’s a personal vindication since it wouldn’t count if another Duterte or someone he anointed remains in power.

“It's more that than. Vindication kasi iyong (because the) personal vindication won't count kung ano e (if), in the end, manaig pa rin itong mga ito (these people will win),” said Trillanes, who will be seeking a Senate comeback under Vice President Leni Robredo’s slate.

During the 2016 campaign period, Trillanes warned the public about Duterte, saying the country would be in a worst spot if he would become president. When Duterte was elected, he called his election “a disaster for the country.”

READ: Trillanes reminds public of his warnings vs Duterte; 'never again'

“So iyong namumulat na marami, iyan ang nakakataba ng puso namin na kahit na huli pero (So, those who are enlightened, that gives us hope that despite belatedly, there is) at least nandoon iyong (the) personal realizations,” Trillanes, a staunch critic of Duterte, said.

Although three-quarters of Filipinos were still satisfied with Duterte’s performance in June, survey showed that his popularity rating plummeted by 21 percent below the record-high +79 percent in November 2020.

Trillanes and Magdalo Partylist filed an impeachment complaint against Duterte in 2017, but it was killed by Palace allies in the House.

“Then after nung ni-railroad nila iyong impeachment, nag-file kami ni Congressman Alejano ng ICC case kasi wala nang masasaklolohan eh. At eto nga nag-progress dito (Then, after they railroaded the impeachment, me and Congressman Alejano filed an ICC case because we can’t count on anyone. And that progressed to this),” said Trillanes.

READ: ICC probe a step towards justice, jail time for Duterte — Trillanes

The supplemental communication filed by Alejano and Trillanes before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague in 2017 said the “State is unwilling to even investigate the extrajudicial killings in the country and because of the President’s immunity, unable to prosecute President Duterte.”

They cited the junking of the House of the impeachment complaint filed by Alejano against Duterte.

The ICC has since opened investigation into the President’s bloody war on drugs campaign, which killed about 8,600 people, official figures said.

Although Duterte withdrew the Philippines membership from the ICC in March 2018, the Court maintains jurisdiction on crimes committed from November 2011, when the Statute entered into force after Manila’s ratification, until March 2019, when the withdrawal came into force.