Duterte camp: Suing Trillanes a waste of time
(philstar.com) | Updated April 27, 2016 - 2:40pm
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| In this April 22, 2016 file photo, front-running presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte clenches his fist during a campaign sortie at Silang township, Cavite province south of Manila, Philippines. A tough-talking Philippine mayor has widened his lead in a poll ahead of May 9 presidential elections, but analysts say his chances will likely be hurt by a storm of criticism over a rape joke and offensive remarks against foreign allies. AP/Bullit Marquez, File |
MANILA, Philippines — The camp of presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said that they will not file charges against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV despite his allegations that the mayor has an undeclared bank account.
In a telephone interview with ANC, Duterte's spokesperson Peter Laviña said that suing Trillanes would just be a waste of time.
Trillanes earlier claimed that Duterte did not declare P211 million in his 2015 Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The senator also challenged Duterte to sue him for libel if his allegation is proven false.
Laviña, meanwhile, said that the bank where Duterte allegedly has an undeclared account should issue a statement on the matter.
"We will consult the lawyer if we will ask (Bank of the Philippine Islands) to issue a statement because no less than the name of the bank has been dragged into this. They have to issue a statement whether this is correct or not," Laviña said.
Duterte's spokesperson noted that the mayor had earlier stated in a public forum that he only has accumulated savings worth P6 million.
"It's part of the smear campaign being raised against the mayor especially right now. His opponents are practicing crab mentality, trying to pull him down with all these baseless accusations," Duterte's spokesperson said.
Trillanes, however, insisted that he is exposing Duterte's alleged undeclared wealth as his part of his job as a senator.
Last year, Trillanes, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III led the Senate hearings on the corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay who had been leading pre-election surveys at the time.
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