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Trillanes to Robin Padilla: Be matured first then we will talk
FILE: UNDER SENATE CUSTODY. Reporters interview Senator Antonio Trilllanes IV, with Senator Risa Hontiveros (right), as he walks along the hallway of the Senate to meet Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to discuss the issues of his arrest on Tuesday (Sept. 4, 2018) after his amnesty has been revoked.
(PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)
Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday, September 5, fired back at actor Robin Padilla after the latter dared him “not to hide under the skirt” of the upper chamber.
“Sige, bibigyan ko na siya ng atensiyon. Alam niyo ‘tong si Robin Padilla, ilang taon na ba ito? Bakit hindi ito tumanda, hindi ito nagmature? Para ngang nasa highschool (Okay, I will give him my attention. You know Robin Padilla, how old is this guy?
Why is he not growing up and not being matured? It seems like he is still in highschool),“ Trillanes told reporters at the Senate.
“How will I take this guy seriously? Eh parang highschool lang (He is like a highschool student). You grow up. ‘Pag mature na siya (If he is matured enough) then he can talk to me then I will give my full attention,” he added.
On Tuesday, Padilla, who was parked outside the Senate building, challenged Trillanes saying, “Labas na diyan, pare! Huwag ka magtago sa saya ng Senado (Get out there! Do not hide under the skirt of the Senate)!”
The actor was recorded saying this in a Facebook live video, while he was seen seated in a vehicle.
“Dito po sa loob nito ay nagtatago ang isang senador na mismong hindi ho sumusunod sa batas (Inside this building is a senator who himself do not follow the law),” Padilla, who is one of the staunchest supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte, declared.
“Aba, ‘pag lumabas ang warrant [of arrest] at hindi ka sumama sa huhuli sa’yo, eh pambihira ka talaga… Kaming mga ordinaryong tao kapag may kaso, wala kaming magawa kapag sinabi ng pulis na kailangan naming sumama sa kanila. Sumasama kami kahit alam naming wala kaming kasalanan (Once the warrant of arrest is issued and you did not surrender to the authorities, then you are impossible… We, ordinary people, cannot do anything once the police said that we have to come with them. We go with them even though we know that we did not commit anything wrong),” he added.
At the end of the video, Padilla urged Trillanes to submit himself to the law as it is the ‘right’ thing to do.
The senator on Tuesday was placed under the custody of Senate President Vicente Sotto III after President Rodrigo Duterte, through Proclamation No. 572, declared the granted amnesty to Trillanes as “void ab initio” as he did not comply to the “minimum requirements to qualify under the Amnesty Program.”
In 2010, Trillanes was granted amnesty through Proclamation No. 75 by former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, after he engaged in coup attempts — Oakwood mutiny in July 2003, the Marines stand-off in February 2006, and the Manila Peninsula siege in 2007 — under the administration of then President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The President, in his proclamation, also claimed that Trillanes failed to file an official amnesty application form according to a certification from the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. He added that the senator “never expressed his guilt” for the crimes that were committed on the three occasions he took part in during the Arroyo regime.
Duterte then ordered the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest the vocal critic of his administration.
Sotto, however, earlier said he gave instructions to Senate Sergeant at Arms Jose Balajadia not to allow the arrest of Trillanes in the upper house premises.
Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano, who also participated in the failed 2003 Oakwood mutiny, also called on the AFP and the PNP not to follow the “illegal orders” of Duterte.
