Former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV took a swipe at the family of former President Rodrigo Duterte—particularly Vice President Sara Duterte—over statements they released regarding an alleged incident involving the former chief executive.
In an interview with the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Trillanes accused the Duterte family of resorting to deception.
“Alam n’yo po kasi, itong Duterte family, sanay itong mambudol, e. ‘Yon ‘yong kanilang go-to tactic, politically magsinungaling, [at] manloko,” Trillanes said.
He added, “Kaya ako naman, ito ‘yong ginagawa ko, binabasag ko ‘yong pambubudol na ‘yon.”
Trillanes also questioned why interviewers at The Hague, Netherlands, where Duterte has been facing scrutiny, did not press the family further on their claims about the former president’s supposed fainting spells.
“Hoping mo sa mga nag-iinterview sa kaniya do’n sa The Hague na ‘o ito, tatlong beses na nahimatay si [FPRRD]’ dapat tinatanong [nila] ‘kailan nangyari, e, kakalabas n’yo lang before nitong September 21. I think nagpa-interview noong September 29, wala naman silang sinabing gano’n. Ano ‘yon, sumusulpot lang?” he said.
The former senator further suggested that Duterte’s relatives should also be asked why the former president was never rushed to a hospital despite their claims.
“Tapos sana tanungin nila, ‘di ba mayro’ng access sa inyo [at] nakikipag-usap [kayo] sa kaniya. Araw-araw, almost si Duterte[…] Bakit walang lumalabas[…] Tapos never siyang nadala sa ospital,” Trillanes added.