Trillanes challenges Duterte: Go ahead, probe helmet deal 

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Antonio Trillanes IV challenged President Rodrigo Duterte to go ahead and investigate the involvement of his mother on the so-called anomalous purchase of Kevlar helmets for the military.

“Ganun pa man, hinahamon ko si Duterte na magpursigi pa sa pagimbestiga at haharapin namin yan,” Trillanes said in a statement on Saturday.

This was after the 74-year-old leader tagged Trillanes’ mother and alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles in the purchase of P3.8 million worth of Kelvar helmets.

“Remember ‘yung Kevlar? It’s a helmet na matigas na hindi matamaan ng . . . kung bala hindi masyado maka-penetrate. That’s Kevlar. Ang nag-deliver noon ang nanay ni Trillanes pati si Napoles. ‘Yan ang totoo diyan,” Duterte said in a speech on Friday.

READ: Duterte tags Trillanes’ mother, Napoles behind anomalous helmet deal

Trillanes then denied the accusation, saying he himself complained about the Kevlar helmets during the Oakwood Mutiny.

“Wagas magsinungaling si Duterte kasi natatandaan pa ng mga tao na ang mga substandard na Kevlar helmets na yan ay isa sa mga issues na inireklamo namin nung Oakwood Incident,” he said.

The senator, a staunch critic of Duterte, said the President have been accusing his mother without any pieces of evidence to back up the alleged illegal activities.

“Regardless, ayon kay Duterte mahigit isang taon na iniimbestigahan ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno ang nanay ko, pero ni isang dokumento ay wala syang mailabas para maiugnay sa kahit na anong iligal na transaksyon,” Trillanes said.

In 2018, Duterte accused Trillanes’ mother of entering into business transactions with the Philippine Navy when the senator and his father were still in military service.

READ: Duterte says he will ‘subpoena’ Trillanes mother over ‘shady’ Navy deals

Trillanes also lambasted Duterte for being silent on the ramming incident of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel by diverting attention to the senator’s mother.

“Komo tameme si Duterte sa Recto Bank issue, nanay ko na naman ang pinagdiskitahan. Iniiba lang nya ang usapan,” he said. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)