Rody: I helped Gringo hide

MANILA, Philippines -  President Duterte revealed yesterday that Sen. Gringo Honasan, who was tagged in ouster plots during previous administrations, was with him in Davao City when the lawmaker was hiding from authorities. 

Duterte said security forces failed to recognize Honasan when he was touring the city. 

“He was wanted by the government, but he was in Davao with me and Rod, the guy from the Air Force. We were having a great time touring around the place. We were wearing helmets,” the President said during the commissioning of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)’s first humanitarian ship Amazing Grace.

“We were having a great time traveling the streets of Davao, eating durian on the sidewalks, and my God, nobody recognized Sen. Honasan and I said that’s how good our Armed Forces is,” Duterte said.

Duterte did not say when Honasan hid in Davao City. 

Honasan was implicated in destabilization plots against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2003 and 2006.

Both Honasan and Arroyo were present during the commissioning of the Amazing Grace. 

Honasan was the leader of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, which staged bloody coups against former president Corazon Aquino. 

In the same event, Duterte called senator and PRC chairman Richard Gordon “Mr. President.”