Former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales on Tuesday revealed that he was confronted and threatened by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the past.
Gonzales made the revelation during the DZRH's Bakit Ikaw? Presidential Job Interview.
Although he did not disclose the exact date of the incident, Gonzales said it was at the time when Duterte was freshly appointed as the Chief Executive of the country.
"Nangyari iyon noong mayroon kaming meeting kasama ang ilang mga obispo. Nagbbreakfast kami. Eh baka may nakadinig. Bago pa lang si presidente nito. Ang usap-usapan, 'baka naman pwede tayong tumulong kay presidente'," Gonzales narrated.
Later that night, he received a call from an enraged Duterte asking for his whereabouts to which Gonzales immediately responded.
“Hindi ko nalang sasabihin sa inyo kung paano niya ako minura sa telepono baka i-sensor ako dito,” he continued. "Sabi niya, 'antayin mo ako dyan, papatayin kita.'"
When the President arrived, Gonzales disclosed that they had a discussion with Duterte saying he must believe that he can kill people. The latter then attempted to pull out his gun.
"Alam mo naman kung babarilin ka ng humahawak ng baril, pero parang hindi naman," he said.
When further probed if Duterte pointed a gun at him, Gonzales denied it and said he only attempted.
In the end, Duterte told Gonzales, "Pangarap ko sa buhay maging pangulo kaya pagbigyan mo na ako, nakaraan na kayo. Oras naman namin ito, 'wag mo na kami pakialaman."
In the past, Gonzales would warn the public against individuals or groups who might take President Rodrigo Duterte’s verbal assault on Catholic priests seriously.
In 2018, the President said bishops who did nothing but criticize his administration should be killed. Malacañang later explained that the President was only joking and he made the remarks for “dramatic effect.”
