Trillanes to Sara Duterte: I didn’t know your dad was a killer, thief

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday disputed the claim of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte that he was an opportunist and a hypocrite for criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte even after seeking his political support before the 2016 elections.

Trillanes said that when he approached Duterte in 2015, he still didn't know that the then mayor Davao City was involved in alleged crimes.

“Ang mga panunumbat ni Mayor Sara Duterte ay nung hindi ko pa kilalang mamamatay tao at magnanakaw ang tatay niyang si Presidente Duterte," Trillanes said in a statement.

“Iba na ngayon, alam ko na ang katotohanan. Di ba naisip ni Sara Duterte na di hamak na mas madaling maging oportunista sa pag sipsip ngayon kay Duterte imbes na kalabanin sya?” he added.

Sara, the daughter of President Duterte, lashed out at Tindig Pilipinas stalwarts Trillanes, Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros for supposedly being opportunists.

"Matanong ko lang, nung mga panahon na humingi kayo ng tulong, may isyu ba kayo sa governance ni PRD [President Rodrigo Duterte]? Wala. Ngayon na nanalo na siya? Meron. Hunger Games, Pilipinas: Plastic na, oportunista pa,” the younger Duterte posted.

Sara referred to the group Tinding Pilipinas as “Hunger Games Pilipinas” as the three-fingered salute is reminiscent of a similar sign from the Hunger Games novels and films. The Senate minority bloc, of which the three senators are members of, is part of the Tinding Pilipinas coalition.

According to Sara, Trillanes sought help from Duterte for his vice presidential campaign last 2016.

"Years ago, nag-request ka makipag kita sa akin dito sa Davao, nasa Damosa ka, ano sabi ko sa emissary mo? No. You know why? I never liked your circus sa Manila Peninsula. Pero meron ako picture na nakipagkita ka kay PRD kasi humingi ka ng tulong niya sa VP campaign mo,” she said.

"Akala ninyo yung circus ninyo ngayon magpapanalo sa inyo sa 2022? Hindi. Ano ititindig niyo? Paninindigang Trapo," Sara added.

Trillanes earlier admitted meeting Duterte a year before the 2016 national elections to explore a “possible team-up.”

Trillanes said he met Duterte in April 2015, when the President, then city mayor of Davao, said he was not going to run for the presidency.

According to the senator, when he learned that Duterte was not interested in running, what was supposed to be an “exploratory” meeting turned into a “social conversation.” —NB, GMA News