(Eagle News) — They’re pure baloney, wild propaganda.
This was how the lawyer of Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte described Senator Antonio Trillanes’ allegations against his client.
According to Rainier Madrid, who is also the vice mayor’s spokesperson, Trillanes’ claims the younger Duterte was a member of a triad, and was involved in illegal activities with corrupt Customs officials and employees, were only meant to “create perceptions in the minds of people.”
For this, Madrid noted that Trillanes did not even mention who the sources of his allegations were, even when he was already asked by the media.
In Thursday’s Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, Madrid said Trillanes also did not reveal who his sources were to senators, saying he would reveal these in an executive session.
“It’s an impossible concoction, a fairytale. But that’s part of propaganda,” Madrid said.
Madrid also dismissed the photographs showing the younger Duterte with alleged smuggler Charlie Tan, and other shady characters.
“By journalistic association, you associate a bad guy with a good guy, he becomes bad (in the eyes of others),” Madrid said.
“Miserable guy. In a court of law, we deal with facts, not hearsay. It’s pure baloney. In hearsay, there’s an iota of (possible truth) but his is wishful thinking. Pure propaganda, black propaganda to create in minds of the people that the President is bad. He couldn’t do that, so now he’s hitting the youngest son,” he added.
