MANILA — At least two congressmen defended former senator Antonio Trillanes IV from allegations that he is an “attack dog” of Malacanang, after he revived accusations during the November 13 House Quad Comm hearing that the Duterte family benefitted from drug money.

House Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega V said Trillanes has been “consistent” with the issues he raised against former President Duterte since 2016. 

House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Jefferson Khonghun added that the first time the former senator made the same allegations, the country was under a different president.

“‘Yung issue ni Sen. Trillanes is 2016 pa, bago pa naging presidente si former president Duterte. Itinutuloy lang niya ‘yung kanyang mga issue sa dating pangulo, dahil hindi naman ito nasagot din ng dating pangulo noong mga nakaraang taon... So I think valid lang na kailangan sagutin ‘yung mga issue sa kanya, lalung-lalu na yung ipinaparatang ni Sen. Trillanes,” Khonghun said.

“Consistent naman po yata ‘yung reputation niya na he has been a fiscalizer ever since… He’s been deep with his own investigation since the Senate pa. But I doubt he’s an attack dog of Malacanang… I think he’s doing it on his own,” Ortega added.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte has accused Trillanes of being Malacanang-sponsored, which the Palace dismissed as a mere “hallucination”.

Duterte previously told the Quad Comm last Wednesday that he would execute a bank secrecy waiver to disprove Trillanes. But he has yet to do so until Monday, according to Ortega.

“Sa waiver, Paiba-iba ‘yung sagot sa waiver. Noong una, mag-eexecute. Noong mayroon na tayong ginawang waiver na sa Quad, magpapaalam daw sa asawa. Klaro naman na ‘yung na-mention sa waiver ay ‘yung joint accounts, not with the wife, but with the VP. Iba iba ang sagot eh…Wala pang ine-execute na waiver. Nagbitaw siya under oath, so inaabangan ng lahat ‘yun,” he said.

For Duterte’s ally and Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, the Quad Comm hearing attended by the former president was a “big political dud”.

“Natapos ang pagdinig na walang lumabas na bago, walang mahalagang bagong impormasyon, at walang batayan para sa anumang kaso na puwedeng isampa… Kung may kaso, edi file the case. Pero wala eh. Political theatrics lang yung nangyayari,” he said in a statement.

“Mas magandang tigilan na ng Kongreso ‘yung QuadComm. Sayang lang oras at resources,” Alvarez added.

“Lagi naman po siyang wala doon,” Ortega replied.

“At least nabigyan ng pagkakataon ‘yung mga nagrereklamo, ‘yung mga may issue sa kanya na harapin ang dating pangulo ng deretso. Napaka-importante nito para at least mabuksan ‘yung mga issue na kinahaharap ng ating former President, lalung lalu na ‘yung issue sa extrajudicial killing,” Khonghun said.

“Sinabi nila Sec. Remulla na tinitingnan ang mga kasong pwedeng kaharapin ng ating dating pangulo, kung ano ang kanyang responsibilidad lalung lalu na sa kanyang sinabi at sa kanyang rebelasyon patungkol sa nangyari sa kanyang administrasyon. Hayaan natin ang Department of justice na gawin ang kanilang trabaho tungkol dito,” he added.

Alvarez, meanwhile, expressed view that the Constitution only prevents incumbent presidents from getting re-elected.

"Alam ninyo, ang nakalagay sa 1987 Constitution – ‘The President shall not be eligible for any reelection.’ It refers to the sitting or incumbent President not allowed for reelection, para maiwasan yung ginawa ni Marcos Sr. na tuloy-tuloy siya sa Malacañang, walang interruption, ng dalawang dekada. Hindi yan dapat mag-apply sa dating Pangulo na hindi na incumbent. Puwede na siya tumakbo ulit,” Alvarez said.

“Let him run, let the people decide, and if there is a legal issue, let the Courts resolve it,” he added, pertaining to Duterte.

Ortega replied, “Good luck po!"

POSTPONED HEARING

The House Quad Comm has moved its November 21 hearing to next week, according to Lead Co-Chairperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

“We just need to prepare our witnesses and documents we need to secure,” he explained.