Palace: Trillanes stripped only of excess guards
Malacañang on Saturday disputed the claim of Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th that the Philippine National Police (PNP) had taken away his military and police security details, saying he still has four bodyguards.
In a statement, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said only excess police personnel who are needed most by the people were taken away from Trillanes.
“Per PNP, two were removed as he already had six when he’s only allowed four,” Roque pointed out.
“Let’s allow our PNP to keep our communities safe, please,” he said.
A fierce critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, Trillanes on Friday revealed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP had recalled his military and police security details without any explanation.
“The security detail from the AFP was also recalled. [Its] orders were not renewed and have expired since the end of June. Also, the Senate has not detailed any security personnel for me,” he said.
Trillanes added that he now has former soldiers from the Magdalo group who serve as his security personnel.
He told his supporters to not worry.
“Huwag silang mag-alala dahil siguro by this time, I know how to take care of myself pero hindi rin naman ako paranoid. I’m a fatalist. I know God has a plan. Kung oras mo, oras mo [They should not be worried because by this time, I know how to take care of myself. I’m not paranoid. I’m a fatalist. I know God has a plan. If it’s your time, then it’s your time],” Trillanes said.
He added that Duterte has been unable to do something to him even if he is without security aides.
“Subukan lang nila. Kilala ko ‘yang si Duterte by now. Duwag ‘yan [Just let them try. I know Duterte by now, he’s a coward],” the senator said.
In a speech during the oath-taking of newly-elected barangay (village) officials in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu, Duterte said he would not be surprised if someone would shoot Trillanes because of the senator’s arrogance.
“Kahibaw ka na aning mga politiko nga sila Trillanes, nagpabilib pirmi. Mura’g siya ra’y isog. Pang-hadlok. Mura’g kinsa ba [You know how politicians are. Trillanes is always trying to act tough and threatening and thinks he’s better than he is],” he added in the Visayan language .
“Mura pud siya’g magsalig siya kay kuan daw siya, Armed Forces, Navy. Kinsa ba’y mutuo niya? Sige’g pangaway, murag buang. Nagtuo siya nga siya ra’y isog. Mao na’y kadaot. Wa man gu’y nipatol. Si Paras di man pud mu… Kuan man na, usa ka adlaw, naa gyud mu mukasa gyud na ang bu naa gyud mukasa ana. Hambugero eh. Sige la’g paisog-isog [He feels confident because he’s from the Armed Forces, the Navy. But who would believe him? He’s always calling for a fight. He believes that he’s the only tough one around because nobody fought him back. But there will come a day that someone will shoot him because he’s arrogant],” the President said also in the Visayan language.
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