As his crusade against senators involved in the probe on the government's purchase of alleged overpriced coronavirus (COVID-19) supplies continues, President Duterte now turned his attention to opposition Senator Franklin Drilon and asked him to explain his connection with incarcerated businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.
Duterte made the statement as he defended anew the government's purchase of COVID-19 supplies during his latest public address taped on Friday evening but was only aired on Saturday morning, September 11.
In his speech, the President said thst since Drilon wanted to talk about corruption, he might want to explain his links to Napoles who has been linked to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam in 2013.
"Since you have proclaimed yourself and your friends there in the Senate as anti-corruption czars, please enlighten , Mr. Senator," Duterte addressed Drilon.
"I can still remember that Ms. Napoles tampered with billions of pesos; and did you end up partying in Heritage Park in Taguig with Napoles and all people. Could you call that a perfect coincidence?" he added.
According to the President, Drilon claimed that he only met Napoles around 10 times but photos supposedly showed their closeness.
Duterte also alleged that Napoles has contributed P5 million to Drilon's campaign.
"Is it true that Napoles contributed P5 million to your campaign at ikaw pa rin ang-- kasama mo sa Senado ang nagsabi na may binigay ay kapalit (It was one of your colleagues in the Senate who said that the contribution had something in return). So what did you give in return?" he said.
Links with Mabilog, Garbo
Meanwhile, Duterte also urged Senator Drilon to explain his connections to former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog and retired police Gen. Marcelo Garbo Jr., two people that the President has linked to the illegal drug trade.
"They both are connected in the illegal drug trade, yung mga tao ninyo noon sa panahon ninyo (your people during your administration's term)," he said.
On the subject of Iloilo, Duterte prodded Drilon to reveal to the public the owner of the biggest mall in Iloilo City and who brokered the sale of the old Iloilo City Airport to a large real estate company.
"We are just curious, Mr. Senator," he said.