Abella ignores Trillanes, calls for ‘nation-building’
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella yesterday said the government would focus on “nation building” rather than entertain the accusations of undeclared wealth against President Rodrigo Duterte.
Abella said Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has lost his credibility and “should not be given the kind of attention that he wants, that he craves for.”
Trillanes on Thursday repeated his challenge to Duterte to reveal details of alleged P2.4 billion worth of bank transactions.
“Let’s lay the matter to rest and let’s continue in nation building and not continue trying to grandstand. Let us engage in nation building, not in that (allegation),” Abella said in a radio interview.
Abella said the document that showed the undeclared wealth of the President and his family had been found to be “falsified.”
“The documents of Trillanes have already been proven falsified before… So in a sense, he is no longer credible. As far as I know, (he should) not be given that kind of attention that he wants, that he craves for,” he said.
“All I can say, perhaps, is this: the President will honor cases with integrity, not like that,” Abella said. “But you know, like the President said, if Trillanes has evidence, he will resign.”
Duterte merely shrugged off the senator’s “old and rehashed” claim and said he will immediately resign, if the allegation that he has hidden wealth is proven true.
The President also told Trillanes “to stop opening his mouth when he has nothing to say.”
In April 2016, Trillanes accused then presidential aspirant Duterte of not declaring over P200 million in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. Despite the controversy, the former Davao City mayor went on to win the presidential race.