Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 5) — Antonio Trillanes IV, who is seeking a Senate comeback, refutes President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that he fulfilled most of his campaign promises, saying the country’s problems have worsened under the Duterte administration.
“Alam natin na hindi totoo ‘yan. Malaking kasinungalingan ‘yan. Ang sabi niya in three to six months ay tatanggalin ang corruption, krimen, at illegal drugs. Pero lumala po,” Trillanes said in a radio interview on Sunday.
[Translation: We know that is untrue. That’s a big lie. He said in three to six months corruption, crime, and illegal drugs would be eradicated. But these got worst.]
During the inauguration of social and tourism ports and seaport development projects in Zamboanga City last week, Duterte said he kept almost all of his promises.
“My term is nearing its end. I can say with a little bit of pride na halos lahat na pinangako ko, natupad ko (almost all of my promises, I fulfilled),” the President said.
But Trillanes said the issues hounding the administration’s pandemic response, such as the government’s alleged dubious deals with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation and alleged corruption at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, show Duterte’s failure to stamp out corruption in the government.
Trillanes, a critic of Duterte, also claimed that “every government agency” is tainted with corruption and Duterte’s former economic adviser Michael Yang is allegedly involved in illegal drug trade.
“Tone-tonelada ang pinapasok na droga, primarily itong ka-partner niya si Michael Yang. Ito ay involved sa illegal drugs. Sabi nung dating PNP deputy ng drug enforcement group ay drug lord ito,” the former senator said.
[Translation: Tons of illegal drugs were smuggled into the country, primarily by his partner Michael Yang. The former deputy of the Philippine National Police drug enforcement group said he is a drug lord.]
“‘Yung drug war ni Duterte ay naka-target lang sa kompetensya. Lumala ‘yung droga, crime, and corruption,” he added.
[Translation: Duterte’s drug war only targets the competition. The illegal drug trade, crime, and corruption have worsened.]
RELATED: Duterte, PDEA dig up past to defend Michael Yang vs. alleged drug involvement
Trillanes, who is running under the senate slate of Vice President Leni Robredo, also noted that Duterte vetoed the anti-endo bill despite vowing to put an end to illegal contractualization.
RELATED: Sotto questions anti-endo bill proposal: We passed it, Duterte vetoed it
He also pointed out Duterte’s attitude towards the West Philippine Sea issue. In May, Duterte said the country’s arbitral win was “just a piece of paper.”
“Sa isang daang pangako niya, baka dalawa o tatlo lang ang nagawa niya,” Trillanes said.
[Translation: Of his one hundred promises, maybe he fulfilled only two or three.]
