WATCH | Duterte: I carry an ‘unlicensed’ gun in case I need to engage in a duel with ‘boastful but coward’ Trillanes

September 9, 2017 - 6:03 AM
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President Rodrigo Duterte checks a rifle given by China as part of its urgent military assistance gratis to the Philippines during a turnover ceremony at Clark Airbase in Angeles City, Pampanga on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. FILE PHOTO from KrizJohn Rosales/InterAksyon

MANILA, Philippines –- President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said he was carrying an unlicensed gun in case he engages in a duel with his leading critic, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a former mutineer.

Gadala gyud ko kay di man ni para sa kontra, naa man daghan man ko dihang security, kanang mag personalay ta’g atubang ba,” the President said in his speech during the celebration of the 17th founding anniversary of Digos, Davao del Sur at the City Gymnasium.

[I’m bringing a gun, not for my enemy because that has already been taken cared of by my security, but in case we face each other.]

Describing Trillanes as a boastful but coward person, Duterte said he would not bring a gun with him if only the former Navy officer and member of the Magdalo Group that staged the 2003 Oakwood mutiny would face him squarely.

Hambugero, talawan man na. Sus, kung ako ma engkwentro ana, bakit naman ako nagadala og baril?” he said.

The President showed a gun tucked in his waist during his speech and said that the weapon was not licensed because license wasn’t needed to kill a man.

Way lisensya ni ha. Dili man kailangan og lisensya para mopatay og tawo,” said Duterte.

Dismisses Trillanes’ allegations against son as ‘garbage’

The chief executive also told soldiers that they could challenge Trillanes to a draw if the senator would digrace them, just like what the lawmaker allegedly did when the Senate investigated former Department of National Defense chief Angelo Reyes over his alleged receipt of P50 million “pabaon” or send-off money when he retired as Armed Forces chief.

Putang ina ka, lumabas ka diyan, draw tayo [Son of a bitch, get out of there, let’s have a draw)],” Duterte told soldiers on what they should tell Trillanes.

Trillanes berated Reyes during the January 2011 Senate inquiry. The following month, Reyes committed suicide. Trillanes said that while he had learned a lesson from what happened to Reyes, he was not regretting what he did during the probe.

Duterte’s renewed attack on Trillanes came a day after the senator, during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, said that he had received information from foreign intelligence agents that the President’s son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, had a tattoo on his back that allegedly proved that he was a member of the Chinese drug triad.

Trillanes is also claiming that Pulong is behind the Davao Group that purportedly facilitates the release of smuggled goods from the country’s ports.

On Friday, the chief executive again dismissed Trillanes’ allegation against the younger Duterte as “garbage.”

The President reiterated that he would step down if accusers would be able to present concrete evidence that the vice mayor is involved in corrupt activities at the Bureau of Customs.

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