Trillanes warns of guilt thru pics, shows Duterte photos with ‘top drug lord’

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday said that if photos were going to be used as evidence, then President Rodrigo Duterte may also be liable in the illegal drug trade, given that he has posed—and even shook hands with—businessman Peter Lim, tagged as a top drug supplier.

At a Senate hearing, Trillanes noted that this would apply to Duterte if the photos of Sen. Leila de Lima with alleged Visayan drug lord Kerwin Espinosa would be used against her.

"Kung consistency tayo, 'yun ang prime suspect," said the senator, a staunch critic of the President.

"Kung ito ang basehan ng guilt, ipapakita natin... kasi nauuso ngayon 'yung guilt by picture-taking. Kanina sinasabi ng lahat ng tinatanong ko, si Peter Lim ang pinakamalaking drug lord sa Visayas, walang nagdi-dispute," he said as photos of Duterte and Lim were shown at the Senate's overhead projector screen.

"Ngayon nandidito siya, kakamayan niya si President Duterte mismo in at least two occasions.... Kakamayan. Kumpare ni President Duterte itong pinakamalaking drug lord na si Peter Lim," he added.

"Ngayon sinasabi ko, I am not ready to make a judgment dahil picture 'yan. Then 'wag din nating gagamitin itong kay Sen. De Lima. Otherwise, kung gagamitin natin itong guilt by picture-taking, aba... huli na natin si President Duterte kasi pinakamalaking drug lord 'yung kakamayan niya," Trillanes said.

"Si Kerwin Espinosa kumukuha siya ng droga kay Peter Lim. So tao lang siya ni Peter Lim. Ngayon, are we now ready to use pictures as a sign of guilt?" he added.

At a previous hearing, Kerwin said Lim—who earlier met with Duterte to deny involvement in the drug trade—was a top drug supplier.

Trillanes brought up the photos as he warned against the credibility of Espinosa, who tagged De Lima in the illegal drug trade, saying he gave a total of P8 million for her campaign fund through her former driver-bodyguard, Ronnie Dayan.

"Mahirap panghawakan ang salita ni Mr. Kerwin Espinosa. Ikaw lang ang nagsasabi... ito ang 'yung kuwento mo, eh, ang pinanghahawakan mo itong picture. Pumunta ka sa Baguio kasama ng pamilya mo. Incidentally, nandoon si Senator De Lima kasi kandidato na siya nu'n," he said.

"Ito sinasabi ko lang kasi umiikot kami. Kapag may lumapit sa amin na drug lord na 'di mo kilala, ngingiti ka, pi-picture ka. Tapos gaganituhin ka, kukuwentuhan ka," he added.

Trillanes said he, along with senators Panfilo Lacson and Vicente Sotto III have been "victims" of such ploy.

He also said he was "so confident" that Espinosa, as well as Dayan, will change their narratives after Duterte's term.

"'Yung mga nasa poder ng kapangyarihan gagawan ka ng kuwento to smear your name. Nu'ng nagpalit ng administration, na-clear si Senator Lacson, na-clear si Senator Sotto," he said.

He addressed Espinosa and Dayan: "I am so confident, 'pag nagpalit ng administrasyon, babaguhin mo 'yung kuwento mo. Ikaw, Ronnie Dayan, ganu'n din. Lalabas 'yung totoo."

For his part, Lacson said the difference between Duterte and De Lima's photos was that the latter is backed up by sworn statements from Espinosa and Dayan, saying money was given and received in her behalf.

He said Duterte's photo with Lim would not hold much weight unless the alleged top drug lord submits a sworn affidavit saying he gives money to the President through his special assistant, Christopher "Bong" Go.

Lacson also noted that Go would also have to issue a sworn statement claiming the same.

He said such would merit an impeachment proceeding.

"Kung si Peter Lim magbibigay ng affidavit na nagbigay siya ng pera kay Sec. Bong Go, at may statement rin si Sec. Bong Go na ito'y ibinibigay niya kay President Duterte, I think an impeachment proceeding is in order," he said.

However, he added: "Pero wala tayo do'n, eh. I'm speaking not as an enabler or apologist of President Duterte... I'm just pointing out that 'yung picture puwede natin 'yang i-interpret... pero there are some circumstances na hindi nakikita sa picture."

Lacson, however, said he would vote for Duterte's impeachment should such evidence prove that he protected Lim.

PNP chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa then said the President was "very angry" upon finding out Lim had been identified as a drug lord.

Dela Rosa said Duterte ordered a case build-up against Lim. — NB/BAP, GMA News