MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte yesterday refused to react to issues involving Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, saying he is too “insignificant” to merit attention.
“He is too insignificant to bother with yourself with. Ba’t papatol ka (Why should I comment?),” Duterte told Malacañang reporters.
A fierce critic of Duterte, Trillanes recently accused the President of not declaring more than P2 billion in his bank accounts, an allegation he also made days before the May 2016 elections.
Trillanes also claimed that Duterte had wanted him dead since the Chief Executive won the presidential race.
Duterte has denied the allegations and even called the senator tulisan (bandit).
The President also vowed to resign if Trillanes could prove that he has even half a billion pesos in his bank accounts.
During a pro-Duterte rally in Manila last Saturday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II asked the President’s supporters who should be next to be jailed after Sen. Leila de Lima. The crowd responded by shouting, “Trillanes.”
The arrest of De Lima, who has been accused of accepting bribes from jailed drug lords, was seen by the President’s critics as political persecution.
Officials have denied that De Lima’s arrest is politically motivated.
Duterte said his critics have nothing to fear unless they are involved in illegal drugs.