President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday accused Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s mother of allegedly entering into business transactions with the Philippine Navy when the senator and his father were still in military service.
“And ang problema kay Trillanes is that he is crucifying Bong Go for entering into business with government. And there was a time in the Navy’s history, kayong mga sundalo, bilib man kayo kay Trillanes eh ‘di punta na kayo doon,” Duterte said in televised one-on-one interview with Chief Presidential Counsel Salvador Panelo in Malacañang Palace.
“Ang tatay niya nasa serbisyo pa. Ang – siya nasa serbisyo na, sundalo na siya. Ang nata – ang transaction ‘yung karamihang supply sa Navy, ang nanay niya. Kung ayaw niyong maniwala, tanungin niyo ‘yung Navy.”
“Ayaw niyo maniwala? Tanungin niyo ‘yung Navy. Kung ganyan ang gusto niyong leader, go to Trillanes. Is that a kind of leader na gusto ninyo? Sumampa na kayo roon,” the President added.
Trillanes, one of Duterte’s staunchest critics, had earlier accused Go of meddling in the Navy frigate deal, which the President’s aide has repeatedly denied.
Laments Duterte’s accusations
Meanwhile, Trillanes lamented President Duterte’s allegations about his parents.
“Hindi ko maisip kung bakit ida-drag ni Mr. Duterte ang aking magulang dito sa laban namin (I don’t know why Mr. Duterte will drag my parents in our fight),” Trillanes said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Trillanes said Duterte only cited his parents because he “cannot throw anything else” against him, lamenting that his 84-year old mother, who has been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, was even mentioned by the President.
The embattled senator has been staying in the Senate after President Duterte issued Proclamation 572 revoking the amnesty granted to Trillanes by the previous administration.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court denied Trillanes’ motion for a temporary restraining order on the implementation of President Duterte’s proclamation. /vvp