Over 10 senators unhappy with admin, some are Duterte apologists—Trillanes

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed on Thursday that more than 10 senators are “not happy” with the directions of the country while some have become the “apologists” of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Trillanes said those who are unhappy have expressed their sentiment in informal discussions.

“They are not happy also with how things are going and they choose to at least not be apologists of the President,” he said during the regular Kapihan sa Senado.

“I appreciate that kasi maaaring (because it’s possible) they’re just giving him time to correct himself. Pwede mo pang sabihin yun (You can say that), ako I’m allowing them that o kaya doon sila sa ibang issue magbabantay ok din yun (or they can focus on other issues, that’s all right). Pero yun na nga (But), to really make justifications, make alibis and be apologists of the President, that makes you an enabler of his evil deeds,” he said.

Asked how many were “unhappy” with the present situation of the country, the senator said: “Marami-rami din, siguro more than 10 ang hindi happy (There are a number of senators, perhaps more than 10 are not happy).” He refused to identify the “unhappy” senators.

Trillanes said some of his colleagues chose to remain quiet either because they are still observing the situation or afraid of possible cases that would be filed against them.

“Nadidismaya ako sa mga ibang kasamahan ko na kino-condone pa yung ganitong practices o nagbubulag-bulagan sa mga ganitong pangyayari. Ang tawag dyan mga enabler of these evil deeds. Noong panahon ng Hapon, World War II, ang tawag dyan mga collaborators,” he said.

(I’m disappointed with my colleagues who condone these practices or those who are turning a blind eye to these things. They are the enablers of these evil deeds. During the Japanese Occupation and World War II, they are called collaborators.)

Asked to whom he was referring to, the senator pointed to all elected government officials who were either encouraging or defending the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country.

But Trillanes lamented that some of his colleagues have also become the President’s apologists “trying to cover and offer alibis” for Duterte.

“Intellectual dishonesty na e,” he said.

Pressed to name the President’s “apologists” in the Senate, Trillanes said he would not identify them because they already know who they are.

“Sa akin naiintiidihan ko pa kung quiet ka lang at tinatantya mo yung situation, maiintidinhan ko pa yun. Pero to be an apologist, ibang level yun. It’s either sumisipsip ka, or natatakot ka na ma-file-an ka ng kaso o worse you actually believe na tama yan,” he said.

(I understand if they remain quiet and you are assessing the situation. But to be an apologist, that’s a different level. It’s either you’re trying to gain the administration’s favor or you’re afraid of the charges that may be filed against you or worse you actually believe that the killings are right.)

“Hindi ko na sila ini-name. Kilala na nila kung sino sila. Yun yung frustrating sa akin. We ran for the Senate precisely because itutulak namin kung ano ang ikakabuti ng ating bansa, at pupunahin natin yung mga maling nangyayari sa ating bansa.”

(I won’t name them. They know who they are. That’s frustrating for me. We ran for the Senate precisely because we would push for the good of the country and criticize the wrongdoings happening in our country.)

“I’m not being self-righteous kaya nga ang pinupuna ko na lang yung mga talagang karumal-dumal at ikakasama ng ating bansa (that’s why I’m criticizing heinous crimes and those which will harm our country). And that’s frustrating,” the senator added. RAM

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