MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte on Thursday took another swipe at staunch critic Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV when he asked members of the Filipino LGBT community in Japan if they can confirm whether or not the lawmaker is gay.

During his speech before the Filipino community in Japan, Duterte questioned the senator’s sexuality while claiming that he was also gay in his younger years.

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“Ako, bakla ako noon. Sinong bakla dito? Bakla man ako noon. Mabuhay ang bakla ng Pilipinas (Who is gay here? I used to be gay),” Duterte said.

“Ang bakla marunong magtingin yan so kayong mga bakla, tanungin ko kayo, ano si Trillanes (Gays can sense and identify fellow gays. Now I ask you, what do you think of Trillanes?),” the President then asked.

Duterte then recalled an event when a person sitting beside him told him that Trillanes is gay.

“Tapos kinalbit ako [ng katabi ko] sabi, ‘sir, bakla ‘yan (Trillanes).’ Sabi ko, ‘Totoo ka?’ Sabi niya, ‘Magtanong ka kahit sinong bakla at makita ‘yang gumalaw,” Duterte said.

Duterte added that unlike Trillanes, said he was able to “cure” his homosexuality when he married his first wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, and when he met current partner, Honeylet Avanceña.

“Mabuti na lang pareho kami ni Trillanes pero nagamot ko ang sarili ko noong kami na ni Zimmerman,” Duterte said.

“Nung nakita ko si Mutya sabi ko, ‘Ah, eto na’, naging lalaki ako ulit,” the President added.

Duterte is in Japan to attend an international business forum and meet with Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo to secure investment deals and bolster the economic ties between the two countries. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)

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