President Rodrigo Duterte accused Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, his fiercest political critic of using the connection of his father to pass the grueling training during his days as a cadet in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
During his speech in Boracay on November 8, Duterte said that Trillanes skipped the training during his cadetship because his father Antonio Sr., was a Navy captain during that time.
According to him, the young Trillanes was always staying in his father’s office while the other cadets are suffering from intense training.
“Yung anak ng opisyal sa PMA, si Trillanes, na hindi man pala sumasali doon sa mga training na ‘yung talagang iihi ka sa pantalon mo. Kasi he was favored because he was always in the office of his father who was working for government, also a military man. Siya pala ang nilakad ng tatay niya,” the President after the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leads the ceremonial distribution of the Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to the Ati tribes in Boracay.
The President also said that his father, former Davao governor Vicente Duterte would never allow him to enjoy special privileges even if he asked for it.
Duterte is not the first man who accused Trillanes of using his father’s position to pass PMA.
Two months ago, the post of Capt. Vicente Cejoco has gone viral on the internet after he claimed that he witnessed Trillanes receiving VIP treatment during his cadetship.
“While his mistahs were dying in the hallways of Melchor Hall during company level punishments or mase-mase, Antonio IV was enjoying in my office cooking and eating lots of boodles along with his 3 room mates.” Cejoco said in the viral post.
“Medyo may pagka shabby/ swapang rin ang mokong na ito. Yung tatay at nanay nya ay palagi umaakyat sa Baguio, sa kwarto ko sa office natutulog. Libre lahat – hatid sundo ko, pakain ko, etc. They usually arrive late Friday afternoon and depart early morning of Monday.” he added.
Several weeks ago, Trillanes accused Duterte of using his father to pass the bar examinations.
“Ang kailangan review-hin kung nakapasa ba talaga ng bar itong si Duterte. Baka nilakad lang ito ng tatay niya kasi governor ang tatay niya noon.” Trillanes said.
However, Duterte quickly debunked the accusation of Trillanes, saying he passed the exam two decades after his father passed away.
Trillanes, a member of the PMA “Marilag” Class of 1995, went on to serve in the Philippine Navy after graduation.
The Senator became known for being one of the leaders of the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny and the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.
He was elected a Senator while being detained for his alleged crimes.