Rody on Trillanes allegation: It’s trash
President Duterte branded yesterday as “trash” the insinuations of corruption and influence peddling hurled by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV against his son and son-in-law during the Senate hearing on the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu into the country.
“Now, I repeat, if you have evidence, not from Trillanes because it’s all trash…This is my guarantee: If you find out in time that I made a fool out of you, (then you) are free to advise me to step down or I, myself, would step down,” he said. “Wag naman yung basura na ituro lang (Don’t rely on trash).”
Duterte parried anew Trillanes’ accusations that his son, Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Dutere, and son-in-law, Manases Carpio, are involved in shenanigans and influence peddling at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
“(As for) my son Pulong (Paolo), I told you to give me an affidavit showing that somebody gave him and he received (money). It would be much better if it’s caught on camera with audio,” he said in Filipino as he defended them during his speech before the officers and men of Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) in Panacan, Davao City.
Carpio is the husband of Duterte’s daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who was also present during the gathering where the President pinned medals on outstanding military officers and had boodle fight in a bid to show solidarity with soldiers.
“I have assured you, I told you before that if my children get involved in corruption… I will resign. I don’t want you to have doubt on me. If you think, if I cannot lead you anymore with honor, feel free to write a letter and ask me to step down,” the President stressed.
He called on the military not to think twice about asking him to step down if any accusations of corruption against him or any member of his family is proven with evidence.
In his previous speeches, he declared that Sara, Paolo and youngest son Sebastian are not involved in corruption. The three are his children with first wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman.
Word of Honor
Duterte said he has also given the same statement to the commanding officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“If you no longer find honor in my words, then there is no reason why would I insist on leading this country…They threw all the trash against me,” the 72-year-old President said.
He recalled how Trillanes threw “trash” against him over his alleged illegal cash deposits, which were carried by the Inquirer and ABS-CBN during the campaign period.
“I have served the mayorship for 23 years in Davao, you have seen my perseverance. I can control my children. (I cannot go after) my grandchildren and my nephews, I’d just be taking care of my children. That’s my life,” Duterte said.
“Let us be clear, do not make it hard for you to find… if you see me as corrupt and if you got the information, even a thousand…you are free (to tell me)… I am ready to step down, strictly on the issue of corruption,” he added.
The Chief Executive reiterated that he has no illusion of staying in office for so long.
Reacting to the admission of resigned Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon about meeting Carpio at least once, Duterte said he does not see anything wrong with it since his son-inlaw is a lawyer.
“Si Manse (Carpio), I don’t know the probability… They were lawyering for Mighty King…. No questions asked for that. That is part of the oath of office. Carpio cannot be faulted since he is a lawyer. Lawyering is lawyering. Just like a doctor, one cannot question why he treated an enemy or whosever. That’s how it is,” he pointed out.
Rody belittles Trillanes
Last Wednesday, Duterte attacked Trillanes and spewed expletives against the senator for dragging Paolo and Carpio into the BOC mess.
During his speech before the oath taking of star rank officers in Malacañang, the Chief Executive said he is willing to give the senator the authority to look into his bank account.
He took a dig at Trillanes’ penchant for dud exposés against him and his family, challenging the lawmaker to dig into the Rural Bank of Kidapawan to find if he had undeclared deposits there.
Duterte belittled Trillanes for having led a failed mutiny, referring to the 2003 Oakwood mutiny during the Arroyo administration, before shifting his speech to Faeldon and defending his integrity despite being embroiled in controversy at the BOC.
He said it is not a surprise that his children are familiar with Faeldon who, along with some generals, visited him in Davao City three years ago to urge him to run for president.
The President added that Faeldon was “present in every meeting” during the campaign period.