Committeee Chair Leila De Lima and Senator Antonio Trillanes during the Senate probe on the alleged extrajudicial killings at the Senate in Pasay City. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday appealed to “blind” supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte to open their eyes and not be carried away with their “idolatry” for the President.
Trillanes likened Duterte’s followers to a “cult.”
“Things are moving fast. I just would like to appeal to the people to open their eyes. Let’s not be carried away with idolatry and their blind followership to President Duterte. We should be ready and be vigilant for any excesses of the abuse of authority,” the senator said in an interview over interview over ABS-CBN News Channel’s “Headstart.”
Asked by anchor Karen Davila if Duterte’s followers are blind, Trillanes said: “Yes I believe so. And it’s a cult following much like what Hitler had back in the 30s so it’s very scary.”
The senator was apparently referring to the dreaded German dictator and Nazi Party leader, Adolf Hitler.
For his part, Trillanes said he would continue his fight “as long as I’m standing on a moral high ground.”
He clarified that he was not an “obstructionist” and he was not stopping the government’s fight against drugs.
“I’m just asking the law enforcement agents to do it properly. You arrest individuals, you don’t kill them because we’re here as public servants to protect and serve the people,” Trillanes said.
His remark came a day after majority of senators, voting 16-4, voted on Monday to remove Senator Leila de Lima as chair of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, which is investigating the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country.
Trillanes and Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto, who are both part of the minority bloc, abstained. Recto earlier explained that the minority would not take part in the process as the issue of committee organizations should be resolved among the majority group.
READ: De Lima ousted as Senate justice committee chair
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