President Duterte has appointed a former lawmaker to serve as new Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed the appointment of Jacinto Paras as the President's new adviser during a televised press briefing Thursday, July 8.
Prior to his appointment, Paras served as Presidential Assistant under the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office since 2020. He was previously designated Labor Undersecretary by President Duterte.
In the same press briefing, Paras, former representative of Negros Oriental, thanked the President for the latest appointment in government.
"Magpapasalamat ako kay Pangulong Duterte (I would like to thank President Duterte) for giving me his trust and confidence in giving me this job and I will do well with this job," he said.
Paras hit the ground running and lashed out at former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV over his "baseless" allegations of plunder against the President and Senator Christopher Go.
He accused Trillanes as the "most corrupt senator that ever lived in this country," saying the former senator hired "overpriced" consultants.
Paras also belittled Trillanes' chances in the upcoming polls amid reports he was supposedly eyeing a presidential or vice presidential bid. He also said people should not listen to Trillanes, insisting he was "dumb."
"I will not even give you a chance to debate with him because you are a nobody," he said.