Duterte’s billions

Trillanes said transactions amounting to P2.407 billion involving 17 accounts of Duterte were recorded over a nine-year period

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has revived his allegation that President Rody Duterte has more than P2 billion in bank accounts. President Duterte quickly denied the senator’s allegations of any unexplained wealth.

The effervescent late senator Juan Flavier once said he would never be accused of having hidden wealth. But he said he may be charged with “unexplained poverty.”

Sen. Trillanes said, “He (the President) has more than P2 billion in his bank accounts and when he shows his transaction history and I’m proven wrong, I will resign from the Senate.”

Presidente Duterte also said he would resign immediately if Trillanes can prove his allegation that he amassed P2 billion illegally, or if the bank account under his name has a total deposit at one time of even just half a billion.

The President won’t show his transaction history. Trillanes can’t prove his allegation. Nobody resigns.

President Rody said Trillanes is not afraid to resign because he is on his last term and would have nothing to lose if he would resign from office. This, he said, explains the senator’s penchant for repeatedly daring him to resign.

Duterte said the senator would have no political career after his term in office expires in less than two years.

Well, some former senators were never heard of again, while at least one became a city mayor.

Trillanes said transactions amounting to P2.407 billion and involving 17 accounts of Duterte in three banks, two in Metro Manila and one in Davao, were recorded over a nine-year period.

But these banks can’t show the record of these transactions to anyone without violating the Bank Secrecy Law, if not authorized by the account owner.

Lawmakers would slow down any attempt to amend this law. As an old chewing gum TV ad goes, in times like these, you need the Bank Secrecy Law.