Duterte: Avoid ‘grandstanding’ politicians
Credit to Author: Catherine S. Valente, TMT| Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2020 16:10:09 +0000
President Rodrigo Duterte has warned the public against politicians like former senator Antonio Trillanes 4th, whom he criticized for alleged “political grandstanding.”
In his speech at the graduation ceremony of police officers in Davao City on Thursday night, Duterte took a swipe at Trillanes, a known critic of his administration, saying the former mutineer-turned-lawmaker was an ambitious and foolish person.
“Si Trillanes, sige daldal. Alam mo itong mga politiko, basta politika lang. You know you should avoid people like that. Akala nila na sila, ‘yung mga grandstanding, wala naman nagawa (Trillanes is fond of talking. These politicians are just into politics. You know you should avoid people like that. They think they are engaged in grandstanding, but they have done nothing),” the President added.
“Hindi naman bemedalled. Hindi naman pumunta sa giyera ang g**o. Nasa opisina lang tapos mag-ambisyon. ‘Yung mga ganun, iwaasan ninyo. I’m just advising you, stay clear.
Sisirain tayo (He is not bemedalled. This fool did not even fight in a war. He’s just in the office but he’s ambitious. You should avoid people like that. I’m just advising you, stay clear. They will ruin us),” he said.
Duterte made the statement as Trillanes faced charges over supposed efforts to provoke a rebellion against the government.
A local court earlier ordered the arrest of the former senator in connection with an alleged conspiracy to commit sedition. The complaint stemmed from the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” video series alleging that the President and his family were involved in the illegal drug trade.
Malacañang earlier said the President would let the law take its course on the latest case of Trillanes.
Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said Trillanes and others facing complaint would have the chance to defend themselves in court.
“If that is the finding of the Department of Justice (DoJ) as he keeps on saying, let the law take its course,” he added.
“They have the opportunity to defend themselves. Again, the President says let the law take its course. There are remedies available to them, they should avail of them,” Panelo said.
Meanwhile, Trillanes has fired back at Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who accused him of being the real “Bikoy,” the narrator in the video series.
“Eh kung ganun pala, eh ‘di i-dismiss na ‘yung case, kasi ang sabi ng testigo nila siya raw si Bikoy (If that is how it is, then dismiss the case because their witness said he is Bikoy),” Trillanes told reporters shortly after his hearing on grave threat in Pasay Metropolitan Court (MTC) Branch 47.
The witness he was referring to is Peter Joemel Advincula, an ex-convict who later revealed himself as Bikoy.
Go on Wednesday accused Trillanes of being the real Bikoy.
“Ang totoong Bikoy ay si Sonny Boy. ‘Yan ang totoong mayabang. Kahit saan ka pumunta, magliliparan tayong lahat dahil sa sobrang hangin mo. Alam ng tao ‘yun (The true Bikoy is Sonny Boy. He is the real braggart. We would all get blown away because he is full of air),” the senator said, using the nickname of Trillanes.
Earlier this week, Trillanes launched his own YouTube channel, where he said he would share his “Trillanes Explains” video logs that would feature his “exposés” about the Duterte administration.
The DoJ on February 10 has filed a criminal case against him and 10 others for their involvement in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.
Among those charged before the Quezon City MTC Branch 138 were Advincula, Jonnel Sangalang, Yolanda Ong, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Fr. Albert Alejo, Vicente Romano 3rd, film actor Joel Saracho, Eduardo Acierto, publicist Boom Enriquez and a certain “Monique.”
Trillanes on Tuesday posted bail for one count of conspiracy to commit sedition after some speaking engagements abroad in the past weeks.