Shut up or you will be next.

This was Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s stern warning on Wednesday against his rival in the vice presidential race, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano after the latter branded him as “Poetector” for allegedly protecting Senator Grace Poe.

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Cayetano’s remark against Trillanes came after the latter accused Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of owning P211 million bank deposit, which he allegedly did not declare in his statement of assets, liabilities and networth.

READ: Trillanes: Duterte didn’t declare P211M in SALN | Trillanes: Duterte has more hidden wealth

“Wala na ba s’yang maisip kung hindi kakornihan na lang (Can he not come up with things that are not corny)?” Trillanes said of Cayetano in a phone patch interview with Senate reporters.

“Kung ako sa kanya, tumabi sya d’yan at baka s’ya ang isunod ko (If I were him, I would step aside or I would go after him next),” he said.

Asked if he has an expose also against Cayetano, Trillanes said: “’Yun lang sa akin, tumatabi-tabi (sya), hindi s’ya ang focus ko rito (I am only saying that he should step aside because he is not the focus of my expose).”

“I’m taking on (one) political monster at a time. Ngayon, nakatutok tayo kay Digong (Duterte’s nickname). Ngayon kung gusto n’yang bumalandra d’yan e… (Now, I am focused on Duterte. But if he wants to get in the way…)”

It was Trillanes who initiated the Senate probe on corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay, while Cayetano actively participated in the investigation.

The two senators are both members of the Nacionalista Party (NP) but they are supporting different presidential bets.

Trillanes, an independent vice presidential bet, is backing Poe’s presidential bid, while Cayetano is the running-mate of Duterte. IDL

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