Trillanes: Sueno dismissal ‘convenient excuse’ to usher new appointee

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV finds President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to fire Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno lacking, saying charges should be filed against the former Cabinet official if the corruption allegations against him are proven to be true. 

In a press briefing, Trillanes downplayed the dismissal of Sueno as a mere “convenient excuse” to usher in a new appointee to a post, for which Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. was earlier considered.

“Dapat kung meron ka talagang anything solid, eh di hindi mo lang i-fire, kasuhan mo. Ipapakita mo na message ito kung gaano ka ka-serious,” Trillanes said. 

“It’s convenient. It’s a convenient excuse dahil may mga papasok na ngayong May so na-open na nila yung door,” he added. 

Trillanes was referring to the one-year appointment ban on defeated candidates, which will expire next month.

The senator, however, said he was unaware of who the Duterte administration is eyeing to replace Sueno.

Earlier reports said Duterte was considering Marcos to head the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The President, however, has said that Marcos is “not interested.” 

Trillanes said Malacañang was “careful” in explaining the dismissal of Sueno to a simple “loss of trust and confidence” so as not to irk the Cabinet Secretary to speak against the administration. 

“They’re very careful na sabihin na loss of trust lang ang reason diba? Kasi nga naman, kung didiinan nila ng husto, baka magsalita yan. Ngayon, kung meron silang na-discover na illegal, bakit hindi mo kasuhan?”

It was presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella who announced also Tuesday morning that Duterte has dismissed Sueno, citing loss of trust and confidence. 

Abella said Sueno's summary dismissal "served as a warning that Mr. Duterte would not countenance any questionable or legally untenable decisions by any member of the Cabinet. "

"The Secretary had, in fact, been instrumental in convincing the President to run for election, but this did not deter the President from pursuing his drive for a trustworthy government by addressing issues like corruption," he added. 

Sueno had earlier denied allegations of corruption, and supposed abuse of power in the DILG.

He said he has never used his position to enrich himself or pursue his personal interests in his many years in public service. — MDM, GMA News