(Eagle News) — Senator Antonio Trillanes IV criticized Malacanang as he protested the planned investigation against him to be conducted by the Department of Justice and the filing of possible charges of treason against him for his recent trip to the United States.
In the US meeting, he allegedly briefed a US senator, and other US officials, on the alleged widespread extrajudicial killings under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
But Trillanes said that when he met United States Senator Marco Rubio, they only discussed the strengthening of ties between the two countries as well as the illegal drugs and human rights issues of the Philippines.
“Nagtraydor daw ako sa bayan dahil nakipag usap ako kay US Senator Marco Rubio kahit pa sinabi na nya mismo na PH-US alliance, corruption and human rights situation ang pinagusapan namin,” Trillanes said in a statement.
Trillanes said that he only had the best intentions for the country’s interest and welfare when he met with the US senator.
Many citizens criticized Trillanes on social media after US Republican Senator Marco Rubio in a Twitter post confirmed that he indeed met with Trillanes and discussed “protecting #human rights amid [the] narcotics crisis” in the Philippines.
Malacanang had earlier said that it would be up to the DOJ whether to investigate Trillanes on his US trip, and on whether to file treason charges against him.