Malacañang: Trillanes using inflation as political issue against admin

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday claimed that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is using inflation as a political issue against the administration.

"...Ngayong nandiyan na iyong inflation, nagagamit tuloy ni Trillanes bilang political issue 'no, pero wala po talagang relasyon iyang dalawang iyan 'no," Roque said in an interview on radio DZMM.

"In fact, nagsimula na iyong problema sa inflation bago pa saiguro lumabas itong isyu ni Trillanes," he added.

His remarks come after President Rodrigo Duterte on August 31 signed Proclamation No. 572, revoking the amnesty granted in 2011 to Trillanes, one of his staunchest critics, for his involvement in unsuccessful attempts to overthrow the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Instead of persecuting his critics, Mr. Duterte should just focus his remaining energy to solving the major problems confronting our countrymen, foremost of which is the rising cost of living," Trillanes had said in a statement.

Inflation was recorded at 6.4 percent in August, the fastest in over nine years since it came in at 6.6 percent in March 2009.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) earlier said the higher-than-expected figure was due to higher prices of rice, energy, and transport.

"We don’t see kung ano iyong koneksiyon doon sa bigas kay Trillanes; itong kay Trillanes po, gumawa siya ng krimen, tatlong beses. At kung hindi niya mapapa tunayan na ligal nga iyong amnesty niya, eh kinakailangan niyang pagbayaran iyong kaniyang nagawa ‘no," said Roque. — BM, GMA News