MANILA — Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday confirmed his trip to the US but denied reports that he was there to stop US President Donald Trump from visiting the Philippines for the ASEAN Summit in November.
“I would like to confirm the information that I met with senior US government officials to include Senator Marco Rubio,” Trillanes said in a press statement.
US Republican Senator Marco Rubio, in a Tweet, also confirmed meeting Trillanes, saying they discussed “US-Philippines alliance, combating corruption, and protecting human rights amid the narcotics crisis.”
Rubio has previously criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
“I did not try to stop the state visit of President Trump since these things are carefully planned and cannot be stopped on the mere say so of a Philippine senator,” Trillanes said.
Trillanes, meanwhile, assured that he presented “only factual information” to Rubio and other government officials.
“I presented only factual information. Besides, you cannot fool the US government. They know what’s happening in our country,” the opposition senator said.
He also assured that he was there to push for the interests of the Philippines. “Be assured that I pushed for the interests of our country. But let me emphasize that the interests of our country are not necessarily the same as the interests of Mr. Duterte,” he added.
Malacanang earlier expressed hope that Trillanes would not release “biased information” in his visit to the US. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
