DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, taunted Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday, saying her father “wanted him alive to bully him.”
This was after the senator said the President “wanted him dead” based on information he had received.
On her social media account, “Inday Sara” posted a photo of a news article where Trillanes said Duterte wanted him dead, with a caption: “Are you sure? Boy Nograles is still alive.”
Sara was referring to former Davao City first district Congressman Prospero “Boy” Nograles, one of her father’s oldest political opponents.
Nograles and Duterte, however, reconciled when the latter decided to run for President.
Sara added that Duterte wanted Trillanes alive “because he wants to play games” with the senator.
“PRD does not want you dead because he wants to play games. Kung wala ka na wala na siya ma-bully [If you’re no longer around, he won’t have anyone to bully]. Ask Nograles and Senator [Leila] De Lima,” Sara posted on Facebook.
The Duterte family recently criticized Trillanes following the senator’s revival of his allegation made before the presidential elections last May that the President had anomolous bank transactions amounting to P2.4 billion.
The senator included the Duterte children in his assertions.
Sara refuted Trillanes’ accusation, saying: “I never pretended to be what I am not. If Trillanes can show where my alleged P121 million is right now and how it became illegal, let’s get it and I’ll give it to all of you.”
Duterte’s eldest son, Paolo, the city’s vice mayor, also called Trillanes a “moron” and said the senator should take a psychiatric test.
“He earlier accused me of being a drug user, and when I have proven that I am not, now he accuses me of having millions in questionable wealth. From drug test and now bank test, if I may suggest for him to take psychiatric test, as something is very very wrong with his mind,” Paolo said.
The President later chimed in, saying the senator “is a robber” and advised him to bring his case to court.
“I would advise Trillanes to go to court and file the proper case against me, and advise him further to stop opening his mouth when he has nothing to say anyway,” he said.