MALACAÑANG on Thursday, January 17, brushed aside the alleged threats to the life of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, saying the senator was having an illusion.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was reacting to the application of Trillanes for exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban, citing threats to his life.

"Guni-guni niya lang 'yun. He's being ignored nga, eh. Hindi siya pinapansin (That's just his illusion. He's being ignored. He's not given attention). He's an illusionist. I am no longer surprised," Panelo said.

Trillanes, a known vocal critic of Duterte, revealed in a Senate forum earlier Thursday that there was a supposed order to kill him.

The senator claimed the order came from no less than President Rodrigo Duterte, whom he described as "vindictive."

"Kasama tayo sa humingi ng exemption dahil alam niyo, itong Pilipinas, hindi safe. Lalo pang pinagulo ni Mr. Durterte kaya kailangan ng mga nagbabantay natin ng gun ban exemption," Trillanes said.

(We asked to be exempted from the gun ban because the Philippines is not safe. President Duterte even made it more dangerous that's why our security aides need to be exempted from the gun ban.)

In line with the orderly conduct of the 2019 midterm elections, the gun ban was implemented effective January 13 and will end on June 12.

Comelec Resolution 10446 provides that qualified persons and entities may seek exemption from the gun ban by applying for the appropriate Certificate of Authority, which can be secured from the poll body's committee on firearms and security personnel.

Any individual is not permitted to carry weapons outside an individual's residence or place of business during the election period, unless he secures a certificate of authority from the Comelec. (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)