Palace hopes Trillanes' trip won't affect PH-US relations

MANILA - Amid Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's acrid relations with the Duterte administration, Malacañang on Thursday expressed optimism that the lawmaker's recent trip to the United States (US) would not "adversely affect" the bilateral relations between the Philippines and the US.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella made the remark after Trillanes reportedly went to the US for an "official business."

On October 18, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida confirmed on his Twitter account that he met Trillanes in the US.

Rubio, in a Twitter post, said he and Trillanes discussed issues concerning the Philippine-US alliance, combating corruption, protecting the human rights, and the Philippine government's anti-narcotics campaign.

Abella said the executive department was unaware about reports that Trillanes went to the US to convince American President Donald Trump not to push through with his plan to visit the Philippines in November.

He said the government hoped Trillanes provided Rubio, who has been critical of Duterte administration's drug war "correct information."

"On whether the senator went to the US to ask some sectors to convince the US president not to visit [the Philippines], the Palace is not privy to that. However, the office of Senator Marco Rubio confirmed the meeting of Senator Trillanes with the Florida senator, who has been critical of the Philippines anti-drug war," Abella told Palace reporters.

"We do hope that the correct information has been given and not biased information designed to adversely affect US-Philippines relations," he added.

Trillanes has become an outspoken critic of Duterte even before the latter won the presidential race on May 9, 2016.

During the presidential campaign, the senator accused the then Davao City mayor of amassing ill-gotten wealth hidden in various bank accounts jointly owned by Duterte's family.

The President, however, repeatedly denied the allegation and even turned the tables on Trillanes, who he accused of having several offshore bank accounts. Sun Star Philippines