Malacañang said Thursday that Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV must be imagining when he said that he was receiving death threats coming from the camp of President Duterte.
The alleged threats to his security have prompted Trillanes to ask the Commission on Elections to exempt him from the 2019 election gun ban.
Trillanes admitted applying for a gun ban exemption, citing lingering “threats” to his life since he is known to be one of Duterte’s staunchest critics.
“Kasama tayo sa humingi ng exemption, dahil alam niyo, itong Pilipinas, hindi safe. Lalo pang pinagulo ni Mr. Duterte, kaya kailangan ng mga nagbabantay sa atin ng ban exemption,” he said.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo dismissed the threats that were supposedly made on Trillanes.
“Guni-guni niya lang ‘yun. He’s being ignored nga, eh. Hindi siya pinapansin,” Panelo said. “He’s an illusionist. I am no longer surprised,” he added.
Panelo clapped back at Trillanes when he referred to Duterte as a Satanist because of the President’s tirades against the Catholic Church. “Baka he was referring to himself,” Panelo said.
Trillanes said that nothing will happen even if Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III mediates a dialogue between the President and leaders of the Catholic Church, saying the Chief Executive is beyond redemption.
“Malabo… kasi Satanista itong si Duterte, wala na silang magagawa doon. Beyond redemption na ‘yun. Sunog na ‘yung kaluluwa noon,” Trillanes had said.
Panelo has said that Duterte is still open to talks with the Catholic Church if they ask for it, following the President’s recent tirades against members of the clergy. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos and Vanne Elaine Terrazola)