MANILA, Philippines — Senator Antonio Trillanes IV dared President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday to go ahead and show his bank accounts to anyone but him, even as he voiced skepticism the chief executive would keep his word.
“Call!” Trillanes said. “Kahit hindi sa’kin ipakita basta ilabas niya (Even if he doesn’t show it to me as long as he opens it).”
Since the campaign period for the 2016 elections, Trillanes has accused Duterte of amassing hidden wealth, particularly in bank accounts. While denying the charges, Duterte has also ignored the senator’s dares to open his bank accounts to scrutiny.
But on Thursday, presidential spokesman, Harry Roque, quoted Duterte as saying “kahit sino puwedeng tingnan ang kaniyang bank account para ikumpirma na hindi po hihigit sa 40 million (pesos) ang laman ng kaniyang mga bank accounts (anyone can look at his bank accounts to confirm that his accounts do not contain more than P40 million).”
“Hindi na niya papayagan si (He won’t allow) Senator Trillanes” access to the accounts, however, Roque said.
But while throwing his challenge, Trillanes was also skeptical Duterte would take it noting, “ilang beses n’ya na sinasabi ‘yan, hindi naman ginagawa (he’s said that many times but he’s never done it).”
“Kung wala talaga s’yang tagong yaman, dapat ilabas ng wala ng kundisyon. Pirmahan ang waiver at ipakita sa taong bayan (If he really doesn’t have hidden wealth, he should show the accounts without conditions. Sign the waiver and show the people),” Trillanes said.
