Trillanes is from the ‘dark side’ — Roque

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday blasted Senator Antonio Trillanes IV anew after the latter publicly ended his friendship with the Palace official.

“Iisa lang po ang aking kakilala na taga-dark side at iyan po ay si Senator Trillanes,” Roque said in an interview over dzRH after Trillanes claimed that their friendship ended when Roque served as Chief Executive’s spokesperson.

During the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Roque was known as a vocal critic and human rights defender who lauded Trillanes for leading two failed uprisings over corruption in the military.

The fall out between Trillanes and Roque began after the lawyer joined President Rodrigo Duterte’s communications team last year, the mutineer-turned-senator said.

“Nung sumama siya sa dark side, nagkasolian na ng kandila,” Trillanes told reporters.

“We can be civil but wala eh, he has thrown away principles,” he said.

Trillanes himself had jockeyed to be the running mate of Duterte during the 2016 presidential election. Duterte turned him down, however.

Roque earlier defended President Duterte’s move to issue Proclamation No. 572, revoking Trillanes’ amnesty.

He said Trillanes’ looming arrest was a consequence of his actions.

“If he did not participate in the Oakwood mutiny and Manila Peninsula siege, he would not have this case,” Roque said. /cbb