Trillanes denies kidnapping claims; calls it ‘clear case of harassment’ 

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. INQUIRER file photo / BARRY OHAYLAN

MANILA, Philippine —Senator-turned-educator Antonio Trillanes IV denied accusations of kidnapping a certain Guillermina Lalic Barrido, calling it a “clear case of harassment and persecution.”

“Never ko na-meet yan si…Barrido. San ka makakita na pari at madre raw ang kasama ko sa pagkidnap at sa kumbento pa raw sya dinetain,” Trillanes said in a text message sent to reporters on Friday.

“Bukod pa dyan, 2016 pa raw sya kinidnap pero ngayon lang nag-file ng kaso,” he added.

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) earlier filed a case of kidnapping with serious illegal detention before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the former senator and three others.

READ: PNP-CIDG files kidnapping complaint vs. Trillanes, 3 others

“Ito na naman ay maliwanag na harassment case at persecution ni [President Rodrigo] Duterte laban sa kanyang mga kritiko,” Trillanes, a staunch critic of Duterte, said.

The PNP-CIDG charged Trillanes, Fr. Albert Alejo, lawyer Jude Josue Sabio and a certain Sister Ling of the Convent of Canossian Sisters. 

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Barrido who claimed she was brought from the Convent of Canossian Sisters to the Holy Spirit Convent on December 6, 2016. She claimed that her abductors held her captive for 15 days.

The complainant also said she was forced to sign a “ready-made affidavit to destroy the reputation of the present administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.”

Trillanes further said he was informed that Barrido actually volunteered to testify against Duterte but flip-flopped.

“Ang impormasyon ko dyan ay isa syang nagboluntaryong magtestigo laban daw kay Duterte pero butas-butas ang kwento at nanghihingi diumano ng pera kapalit ng kanyang salaysay kaya hindi tinanggap bilang testigo.Tapos nang hindi nabigyan ng pera, bumaliktad,” he said. /jpv