Trillanes sues Mocha
MANILA — Senator Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday filed a complaint against Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux "Mocha" Uson at the Office of the Ombudsman.
Trillanes was accompanied by his lawyer Reynaldo Robles.
Magdalo partylist Representative Gary Alejano was also at the Office of the Ombudsman to show his support for Trillanes.
Trillanes earlier threatened to sue Uson, along with broadcast journalist Erwin Tulfo and CNN Philippines contributor Ben Tesiorna for libel after releasing allegedly false information about his purported foreign bank accounts.
Among the charges are libel, graft and violation of the code of conduct of public officials.
The complaint stems from Uson's publication on her Mocha Uson Blog Facebook page of "images and links of and links to what appears to be a number of uniform computer printed documents purportedly being offered to prove that the undersigned had numerous bank accounts in foreign banks, which purportedly constitutes his 'tagong yaman' (hidden wealth)."
Trillanes also accused Uson of falsification and/or use of falsified documents, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and violation of Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
He also accused assistant secretary who is ostensibly in charge of the Presidential Communications and Operations Office's Social Media Office of grave misconduct for performing in casinos despite a ban on government employees even entering them.
"Hindi na pupu wede yung fake news. The era of fake news is over," Trillanes has said at a press briefing at the Senate.
Aside from Uson, Tulfo and Tesiorna, President Rodrigo Duterte has accused Trillanes of having secret offshore accounts.
President Rodrigo Duterte said he has proof that Trillanes stashed funds in various offshore banks.
Trillanes went to Singapore on Tuesday to verify with banks there whether accounts he has been accused of owning actually exist.
Trillanes first visited the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS Bank) and inquired about account number 1178000281602, which allegedly had a balance of S$193,850 or P7.3 million as of August 30 this year.
It turned out to be a non-existent bank account.
Duterte, also on Tuesday, admitted that he lied when he mentioned bank account numbers in a speech last week. He said he did that to trap Trillanes.
Trillanes also went to the Raffles City Tower where the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank is supposedly located, based on the documents being spread in social media, to check if account number 0016729915127 with a balance of S$278,300 or P10.5 million exists as alleged by supposed bank documents shared by Duterte's supporters.
Hong Kong Shanghai Bank does not have an office there.