Duterte calls Trillanes a ' political ISIS'

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has called Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, his staunch critic, a "political ISIS."

Duterte, in an interview with reporters in Davao City Saturday night, said that Trillanes was only good in hearsay.

"‘Yu n g kay Trillanes naman, ABC, sinabi ni B na si C daw ang nagsabi sa kanya. That’s not evidence, ‘yung pasapasa. 'Ah sinabi ni ano na ‘yun raw siya.'... Ito si [Trillanes], political I SI S. Wal a m an siyang talent," he said.

In a recent inquiry of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Trillanes wanted Duterte's son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, and son-in-law, lawyer Manases Carpio, to be summoned to shed light on their alleged involvement in the bribery at the Bureau of Customs.

But Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the committee, opposed Trillanes' move unless he could provide evidence against the younger Duterte and Carpio, husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

"Pagka ‘yung inaway niya si Gordon, ganun, insisting on something which cannot be done legally, that’s in the … sa conduct nila, it’s unruly behavior. And they can always be punished for that and even ousted from the Senate," Duterte sai d .

Duterte said he advised Paolo to attend the Senate inquiry but when asked, he should invoke his constitutional right to remain silent.

"Ang advice ko kay Pulong? 'Punta ka doon, then pagdating mo and he questions, sabihin mo lang na, 'I will not answer you, I'm invoking my right of silence kasi nung eleksyon pa, hindi pa Presidente ang tatay ko, binibira mo na kami'," he sai d .

He said there was no point of answering Trillanes' questions.

The President also advised other individuals who would be asked by Trillanes to be summoned in the Senate hearing not to answer also the senator's questions.

"For what? You are on a fishing expedition. Kaya kung may gusto kang malaman, huwag mong kunin sa bunganga ko. G*** ka pala. ‘Di maghanap ka kung saan-saan mo hanapin. Kung totoo talaga ‘yan," he said.

Duterte also said the "process of the Senate has been degraded, parang it looks cheap now."

He said as a lawyer, his advice to those who would be called by the Senate to attend an inquiry is not to be afraid if they would be threatened with contempt.

"That is my advice to the people of the Philippines. Hwag kayong matakot ‘yang contempt-contempt sa Senate. Wala ‘yan. 'Pag kayo pinatawag, maghingi kayo ng tulong sa akin as President, tutulong ako. I will send lawyers. I have to say that I represent the person cited to appear, and my answer to him is, 'Shut up.' Tapos," he said.