Trillanes: I didn’t know Duterte was a ‘murderer’

This picture was reportedly taken when Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (left) sought the help of then-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for his vice presidential ambitions in 2016. Trillanes lost while Duterte was elected as president. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday hit back at Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for calling him and two other minority senators “opportunists” for seeking President Duterte’s help in the past for their political ambitions.

Trillanes, in a statement released a few hours after Sara’s lengthy Facebook post, admitted that he sought Duterte’s endorsement during his vice presidential campaign years ago.

The mayor said Trillanes sought her father’s help when the senator ran for vice president.

Trillanes ran for vice president in the 2016 elections.

He claimed that at that time he did not know that Duterte, then mayor of Davao City, was a killer.

“Ang mga panunumbat ni Mayor Sara Duterte ay nung hindi ko pa kilalang mamamatay tao at magnanakaw ang tatay n’yang si Pres. Duterte,” Trillanes said.

“Iba na ngayon, alam ko na ang katotohanan,” he said.

When Trillanes sought Duterte’s help in 2016, Duterte had been accused and investigated for alleged summary executions in Davao City for at least seven years.

Trillanes said it would be more opportunistic of him if he would still maintain ties with Duterte despite their opposing views.

Trillanes then asked Sara when the First Family would sign a bank secrecy waiver to prove that they were not corrupt.

“Di ba naisip ni Sara Duterte na di hamak na mas madaling maging oportunista sa pagsipsip ngayon kay Duterte imbes na kalabanin sya?” he said.

“Maiba ko, kelan kayo pipirma ng waiver para mapatunayan nyo sa taong bayan na hindi kurakot ang pamilya nyo?” Trillanes added.

Trillanes is accusing Duterte of having billions in hidden wealth but the president has repeatedly denied the allegation. /cbb