Trillanes seeks probe on Duterte’s alleged hidden wealth

Opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is set to file today a resolution seeking an inquiry into President Duterte’s alleged ill-gotten wealth in response to his challenge to Congress to investigate the allegations.

The resolution seeks to look into bank documents under the name of Duterte and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, showing their undisclosed “covered transactions,” or transactions exceeding P500,000, which may have violated the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA).

“President Duterte must address this issue squarely once and for all and stop fooling the Filipino people. If he has nothing to hide, he should bare it all and sign the waiver,” Trillanes said in a statement.

He said Duterte has been dilly-dallying in his statements, and instead has been bluffing by publicly ordering the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to investigate his alleged bank accounts. “We all know that the AMLC would not do it unless he signs a waiver on bank secrecy,” the senator said.

Trillanes said Duterte’s continued denial of the existence of his alleged undeclared wealth led to the latter suspending Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang for supposedly releasing his bank documents from AMLC.

“What is there to leak when they deny such documents being released by AMLC?” Trillanes said.

He noted a report made last month by VERA Files detailing the Dutertes’ failure to fully disclose in their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) their joint deposits and investments, which exceeded P100 million, with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

The transactions in their bank accounts, according to the VERA Files report, included a P48.17-million placement in 2006 that grew to P55.13 million by 2013; a P40.55-million investment in 2009 that stood at P41.72 million in 2013; about $220,000 (roughly P10 million), from 2006 to 2012; the purchase of P80 million in insurance policies in 2014 and a P16.85million investment which began in 2014.

Trillanes first raised the issue of Duterte’s ill-gotten wealth in April 2016 and filed a plunder complaint against him before the ombudsman in the same year.

“With this resolution, I am accepting President Duterte’s challenge to investigate his alleged ill-gotten wealth to once and for all reveal the truth on this issue. The public wants to know the truth and it’s in the hands of the Senate to uncover it,” he said.

‘Broken record’

Meanwhile, Malacañang yesterday likened to a “broken record” Trillanes’ plan to seek a probe on the Dutertes’ alleged hidden wealth.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Trillanes has been accusing Duterte of amassing ill-gotten wealth since the campaign period.

“Lumang tugtugin. Election pa ’yan. Wala na bang bago? Parang sirang plaka (Old tune. It has been around since the election. Nothing new? It’s like a broken record),” Roque said in a text message.

Trillanes has accused Duterte of not declaring P211 million in 17 bank accounts days before the 2016 presidential race. Duterte has denied the allegation, dismissing it as an attempt to besmirch his reputation.

The senator’s allegation did not prevent Duterte from beating his more moneyed and experienced rivals and winning the election by a landslide.

Trillanes continued with his tirades even after Duterte assumed office, accusing the President and his family of having had more than P2 billion worth of questionable bank transactions.