Former President Rodrigo Duterte said he will file a libel case against former senator Antonio Trillanes IV following the latter’s allegations of suspicious multi million-peso bank deposits being transferred to the former’s family.
During the November 13 House Quad Committee hearing, Trillanes presented alleged bank documents showing P2.4 billion was deposited to the bank accounts of Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, from 2011 to 2015.
Former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo spoke to Duterte via phone call while live on TikTok on late November 14, during which Duterte said Trillanes must prove his claims in court.
“I called to consult Trillanes’ lies with you because I have to file libel cases against him… There isn’t an ounce of truth,” Duterte said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I will just file a case. He should prove in court. He’s all nonsense,” he added.
The former chief executive claimed some of his family members’ names were misspelled in the documents Trillanes presented in the hearing.
He also explained why he was seen live picking up his mic and seemingly about to throw it at Trillanes: “Somebody should teach him a lesson in life… He keeps on destroying other people’s reputation and he gets away with it.”
However, Duterte said he would ask Sara to step down from her post if Trillanes’ claims are proven true.
Meanwhile, administration lawmakers expressed bewilderment at how former Duterte took back his pronouncement that he will sign the absolute bank waiver, without any conditions.
House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur noted that initially, Duterte was very straightforward in his statements.
“I’ll sign the waiver tomorrow (Nov. 14),” Duterte originally offered.
Adiong said when he first mentioned the word “waiver” in his interpellation, Duterte replied: “The waiver? Yes.”
“I’m willing to execute an affidavit, to summon the bank pursuant to my waiver. If there is an iota of truth, I will ask my daughter to resign and all members of my family. I will also hang myself in front of you,” Duterte told Quad Comm members.
“But Trillanes should also hang himself too,” Duterte added.
He eventually invoked the conjugal nature of his financial transactions.
“Please give me one purpose. Why should I produce it? My problem is that that bank account is joint with my wife. So, I cannot waive her right to secrecy. I myself have no problem with that. The problem is that it is a joint account,” Duterte said.
“The problem is: What is the purpose of this investigation? Am I under investigation? Why are you asking for my bank accounts? What is my purpose here?”
Trillanes, however, refuted the former president’s statement.
“Just for the record, the joint account is between Duterte and VP Sara Duterte – not the wife. Those are the bank records that are in our custody.”
“Just like what I anticipated earlier, he’s been saying he is willing to sign a waiver. At the same time, it’s always a bluff. Now, he’s saying he will slap me first before he signs the waiver. I will agree, provided he should first sign the bank waiver,” Trillanes added.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Duterte to sue Trillanes for libel over bank deposit claims.”
