AFP, PNP took away Trillanes’ security men, senator says

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police had taken away his military and police security detail without any explanation.

“Yes, effective end of June,” Trillanes said when asked if the PNP had recalled his police escorts from the Police Security and Protection Group.

“I won’t go into that because self serving. Sila na ang bahala. Ni-remand daw nila, ni-recall,” added Trillanes, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Sought for comment, PNP-PSPG director Superintendent Filmore Escobal said the PNP no longer renewed the assignment of police escorts to the senator because he already had six—two from the Armed Forces, two from the Navy and two from the Senate.

"The non-renewal of the letter orders of the excess security of Senator Trillianes from the PNP is in compliance with the implementation of 'Alunan Doctrine' which provides that government officials can only have two security personnel protecting them as provided under NHQ PNP Memo dated December 15, 2016," Escobal said.

But Trillanes said the AFP had also recalled the soldiers assigned to secure him.

"The security detail from  AFP were also recalled. Their orders were not renewed and expired since end of June. Also, the Senate has not detailed any security personnel for me," Trillanes told GMA News Online.

Trillanes said he also has no security detail from the Senate Security Bureau.

‘Just Magdalo men’

Asked if he had any security personnel, Trillanes said, "Mga former soldiers from Magdalo."

He said no explanation was given to him for the recall but added that he was okay with the development.

“Basta sabi ko, I’m fine. Ibigay nila, I’m good. Hindi (nila ibigay), I’m good. Hindi ako magpapaapekto,” Trillanes said.

The senator said his supporters should not be worried because he could take care of himself even without police security aides.

“Huwag silang mag-alala dahil siguro by this time I know how to take care of myself pero hindi rin naman ako paranoid. I’m a fatalist. I know God has a plan. Kung oras mo, oras mo,” Trillanes said.

“Pero sa akin ganito lang—Subukan lang nila. Kilala ko 'yang si (President Rodrigo) Duterte by now. Duwag ‘yan,” he added.

‘Someone will shoot him’

In a speech in Cebu City in early June, Duterte said Trillanes' supposed "arrogance" might result in the senator getting shot "someday."

"You know how politicians are. Trillanes is always trying to act tough and threatening and thinks he’s better than he is," Duterte said.

"He feels confident because he’s from the Armed Forces, the Navy. But who would believe him? He likes to fight a lot. He was part of the Magdalo before and was pardoned by [former President Benigno] Aquino. Now look what happened. He’s always calling for a fight," he added.

"He believes that he’s the only tough one around because nobody fought him back. But there will come a day that someone will shoot him because he’s arrogant," Duterte said. —NB/KG, GMA News