Presidential candidate Davao mayor Rodrigo Duterte
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA
THE camp of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday hit back at Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for saying the tough-talking mayor lacked discipline, contrary to the image he was supposedly portraying.
“He should face the mirror and look who has no discipline,” Peter Tiu Laviña, Duterte’s spokesman told INQUIRER.net.
During a roundtable interview with Inquirer editors and reporters on Tuesday night, Trillanes gave his impression of the three candidates seeking the highest elective post in the country.
He described Vice President Jejomar Binay as a “life-long thief,” and Sen. Grace Poe as “enthusiastic.” As for Duterte, Trillanes said the Davao mayor “doesn’t have discipline.”
“How do you expect discipline from a guy who is not disciplined himself?” Trillanes said, adding that Duterte was often late and canceled commitments on the last minute.
Laviña said Trillanes was sent to a military school by the people’s taxes but went against the chain of command.
“We sent him to a military school paid for by our taxes and he violated his oath by going against the chain of command,” Laviña said.
In July 2003, Trillanes led 300 soldiers in taking over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center in Makati City to demand the resignation of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Their group was called “Magdalo.”
In November 2007, Trillanes along with other Magdalo soldiers walked out of their trial proceedings at the Makati Regional Trial Court, marched to the Manila Peninsula Hotel and staged a siege.
It was the second attempt of Trillanes to overthrow the administration of then president Arroyo.
Trillanes was charged with rebellion and was imprisoned but was later granted amnesty in 2011. AC