Trillanes twits SolGen on case threat: 'Shut up, just do it'

MANILA - Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday fired back at Solicitor General Jose Calida following the latter's warning that he will file charges against the opposition lawmaker for allegedly coddling a professed hitman of the Davao Death Squad (DDS).

Calida on Monday said Trillanes was a "person of interest" and should be held accountable for "protecting, coddling, and hiding" retired SPO3 Arturo Lascañas, a self-tagged DDS leader who accused President Duterte of ordering hits on crime suspects and political opponents.

• READ: DDS killed 'criminals, innocent people' at Duterte's behest - Lascañas affidavit

In a statement, Trillanes vowed that he will not be cowed by any threat from the Duterte administration, calling the threats a "misuse and abuse of power."

"They can threaten me all they want but I will continue to fulfill my mandate to expose the truth about President Duterte and stand up against the blatant misuse and abuse of power by his administration," he said.

He added: "Mr. Calida, just shut up and do it (filing of charges)."

The Senate is set to investigate Lascañas' claims that Davao Death Squad members took orders from then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to conduct assassinations in Davao City.

Lascañas in a 2016 Senate inquiry claimed the DDS was just a rumor perpetrated by "media hype," only to recant his statement during a press conference at the Senate last week.

Trillanes said a Catholic priest approached him to facilitate the presentation of Lascañas to the public.

• MORE STORIES: Davao Death Squad