Palace hoping Trillanes did not spread lies in US

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is hoping Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV did not spread lies when he met with US Sen. Marco Rubio to discuss corruption and the human rights situation under the Duterte administration.

“We do hope the correct information has been given and not biased information designed to adversely affect US-Philippine relations,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said yesterday.

He refused to comment on reports that Trillanes was trying to prevent US President Donald Trump and other US officials from attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit next month in Manila.

“We understand that Senator Trillanes went on a trip to the United States. On whether the senator went to the US to ask some sectors to convince the US President not to visit, the Palace is not privy to that,” he pointed out.

Malacañang, he said, was informed of the two senators’ meeting.

The office of Senator Rubio, who has been critical of the Philippines’ drug war, said the two senators talked about Philippine-US alliance, combating corruption and protecting human rights amid the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Rubio confirmed the meeting through a post in his official Twitter account on Oct. 18 that read: “Senator Trillanes and I discussed US-Philippines alliance, combating corruption and protecting human rights amid their narcotics crisis.”

The White House confirmed last month that Trump is set to visit the Philippines in November to attend the ASEAN summit and related meetings. The visit will take place during a tour from Nov. 3 to 14, which will also include stops in China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the US state of Hawaii.

“Trillanes has been discussing the human rights situation in the country and trying to convince the US senators to discourage Trump from coming to the Philippines,” a source said.

However, the source stressed that Trump’s visit to the Philippines is “really about ASEAN and not just the Philippines.”

President Duterte, in a speech before migrant workers and diplomats in Pasay City yesterday, reiterated that he has no plans of visiting the US.

“I was invited by Trump. Two senators said, ‘We will protest.’ I answered, ‘Who told you I will go there?’” Duterte, who has criticized the US for expressing concern over the killings tied to his war on illegal drugs, said. 

The tough-talking leader has repeatedly said he would not allow any country or group to derogate Philippine sovereignty. 

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Trillanes’ trip to the US is treated in good faith and as a normal engagement unless the government receives confirmation that his purpose was to seek US help to topple Duterte. – With Alexis Romero