Drilon thankful Pres. Duterte considers him as ‘friend’

Drilon also acknowledged the support the President has given him in all his election campaigns and expressed hope they remain friends. (Photo: Franklin Drilon/Facebook)

MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Frank Drilon on Wednesday thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for calling him his “friend” and that he had no hand in the allegations of pork barrel mastermind Janet Napoles that she gave the senator PHP5 million worth of campaign donations.

“We thank the President for his statement that I have his respect and he considers me a friend,” Drilon told reporters in an interview.

Drilon also acknowledged the support the President has given him in all his election campaigns and expressed hope they remain friends.

He also pointed out that he never said that the President talked to anyone to file a case against him, or anything to that effect.

The senator also clarified that if he had disagreements with Duterte in the past, it is “always on matters of policy” and never attacked the President on a personal level.

In his speech before departing for India at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Duterte denied having a hand in Napoles’ allegations and said that he was willing to resign if somebody could prove that he did.

“Senator Drilon, if I talked to somebody urging a case against you on PDAF bring that person in my presence and I will resign because you are my friend,” Duterte said in a speech.

“You have been my friend from way back, I respect you, and I told you before in front of so many congressmen, and told them that I’m not doing anything against you,” he added.