Palace: Trillanes ‘no longer credible’

SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV has lost his credibility, thus, should not be given “the kind of attention that he wants, that he craves for,” Malacañang said on Friday.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the Palace would rather focus on "nation building" than entertain the accusation of Trillanes that President Rodrigo Duterte has P2.4 billion in his bank accounts.

“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.

The senator revived his challenge on Duterte to release his bank accounts to prove that his accusation is false.

Abella said the supposed document that showed the undeclared wealth of the President and his family had already been “falsified” when Trillanes brought up the issue during the 2016 elections.

“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.

The presidential spokesperson said the senator does not merit attention since he is making a claim sans integrity.

“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 State of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth but amid the controversy the former Davao City mayor won the presidential race by wide margins. (Ruth Abbey Gita/ SunStar Philippines)