Duterte tags Trillanes’ mother, Napoles behind anomalous helmet deal

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte has accused the mother of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles as the ones behind the supposed anomalous purchase of Kevlar helmets.

Speaking at the inauguration of his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte on Friday, the President also claimed that both parents of the Trillanes, one of his fiercest critics, were involved in graft and corruption at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

“If there was something wrong, if there was money there, kila Trillanes ‘yon, hindi sa amin. Ang No. 1 na graft and corruption diyan noon sa PMA, ‘yung tatay niya pati ‘yung nanay niya,” Duterte said.

“Remember ‘yung Kevlar? It’s a helmet na matigas na hindi matamaan ng . . . kung bala hindi masyado maka-penetrate. That’s Kevlar. Ang nag-deliver noon ang nanay ni Trillanes pati si Napoles. ‘Yan ang totoo diyan,” he added.

In July 2013, the Inquirer broke the story on the P10-billion pork barrel scam allegedly masterminded by businesswoman Napoles.

Napoles and her husband, retired Marine Maj. Jaime Napoles, were also charged with graft and malversation in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of Kevlar helmets worth P3.8 million.

This was not the first time Duterte accused the mother of the outgoing senator of corruption.

The President in September 2018 accused the mother of Trillanes of allegedly entering into business transactions with the Philippine Navy when the senator and his father were still in the military service. This was a clear case of conflict of interest, Duterte said.

Trillanes has denied Duterte’s allegation and bared that his mother was suffering from advanced Parkinson’s Disease.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)

READ: Duterte says he will ‘subpoena’ Trillanes mother over ‘shady’ Navy deals