Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said on Tuesday that President Rodrigo Duterte has “become so insecure of his place.”
During his tête-à-tête with Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Duterte asked the military to join his staunchest critic.
“Kung kayo may nakita na ginawa si Trillanes para sa inyo (If you think Trillanes has done something for you), go to them, stage a mutiny or a revolution or whatever,” Duterte said.
“You are free to do that. As a matter of fact, I’m encouraging you, para tapos na (so it’s finished),” he added.
READ: Duterte: Reds, Magdalo, political rivals plotting to oust me
Trillanes, however, insisted that no one is trying to compete with the President.
“Alam niyo po he has become so insecure about his place, wala pong nakikipag-kumpitensiya sa inyo. Siya yung commander-in-chief ng Armed Forces (You know, has become so insecure of his place. No one is competing against him. He is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces),” he told reporters.
“Ako po ay isang senador, tumutulong ako whenever I can, not only to soldiers and policemen but to everyone, lahat ng kababayan natin, ganun ‘din dapat siya. ‘Di kami nagpapataasan ng ihi dito, walang kumpetensiya (I am a senator, I help not just soldiers and policemen but everyone whenever I can. He should do the same),” the senator added. /ee