Duterte says son Paolo running for Congress to get back at Trillanes

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday that his son, former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte, is seeking a seat at the House of Representatives to get back at opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Paolo will run for congressman in Davao City's first district.  

He quit his post in December 2017 following a public spat with his daughter and Trillanes' allegation in a Senate inquiry linking him to the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China that slipped past port inspections in May last year.

"I think he's running for congressman kasi napahiya, hiniya ni Trillanes. He was summoned to Congress. Ganun si Trillanes," Duterte said in a speech before the Filipino community in Papua New Guinea, where he is attending the 26th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting.

"Gaganti talaga 'yan. He will be running for congressman tabla sila dyan. Sabi ko, magkaaway man kayo ni Trillanes pagdating ninyo sa Congress magbarilan kayo at mamatay ka, ililibing kita. That's how it is," Duterte said.

Trillanes, one of the staunchest critics of the President, had also alleged that Duterte and daughter Sara, the incumbent Davao City mayor, kept millions in secret bank accounts.

Trillanes is serving his last term as senator.  It was not yet certain if he would seek a seat at the House, this time, as nominee of the Magdalo party-list.  

Magdalo has a seat at the House being held by Gary Alejano, who will run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections.

In his speech, Duterte also slammed the Magdalo soldiers, likening their actions during the Manila Peninsula siege in 2007 to that of the terror group ISIS.

Trillanes was one of the leaders of the group who staged a short-lived mutiny in 2003 against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  In 2007, Trillanes and his group walked out of their trial and marched through a hotel in Makati City to seek Arroyo's ouster.

"They destroyed everything, parang ISIS ang mga buang.  Wala silang [alam] kundi to kill, maghamon, magbastos," Duterte said.

He said the former rebels, including Trillanes, appeared to be "invinsible" after they were given amnesty by President Benigno Aquino III in 2011.

"Be careful again with military, lalo na 'yang mga rebelde tapos na-rehab because they were extended pardon by Aquino. They became sort of invincible na. Pumasok na isip yung 'well I can do anything I want because I did the worse in my lifetime and yet I'm still here being a senator.' Be careful with those guys. Maniwala kayo," he said.

Duterte had earlier accused Trillanes' Magdalo group, the communist rebels and other political opponents of working together for his ouster.

In August, Duterte issued Proclamation 572 voiding the amnesty given by the Aquino.

Trillanes had asked the courts to invalidate the President's proclamation. — LDF, GMA News