Senate probe on Dutertes’ bank accounts a ‘tragic waste of time’ — Pimentel

Pimentel said that the Senate of the Philippines, which is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the country, is not the proper body to handle the case. (Photo: Senate President Koko Pimentel/Facebook)

It would be a “tragic waste of time” for the Senate if the investigation into the alleged ill-gotten wealth of President Rodrigo Duterte would pursue, Senate President Aquilino “Kiko” Pimentel III said in response to opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s move to file a resolution urging the Senate committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies to scrutinize the bank accounts of the Dutertes.

“Before, he (Trillanes) tried it against Pulong Duterte and Mans Carpio. Now it’s the same thing against other members of the Duterte family,” the Senate leader said in a text message.

The eldest son of the president and his son-in-law, former Davao City vice mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte and Manases Carpio, respectively, were both linked to the controversial P6.4 billion shabu shipment from China that slipped through the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Pimentel said that the Senate of the Philippines, which is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the country, is not the proper body to handle the case. He added that Trillanes should bring it to the proper forum.

“If he really has the evidence then he should bring an actual case in the proper body. Senate is not the body for that. We are part of legislative action,” Pimentel said.

“But if this is part of just making this issue land in the news then this should not be allowed. It will be a tragic waste of time by the Senate,” he added.

Trillanes responded to Pimentel that it was the President himself who challenged the Senate to investigate his bank accounts.

“Masyado naman s’yang ninenerbyos agad para sa amo n’ya [He is too nervous for his boss],” Trillanes said.

The issue of the president’s alleged hidden wealth resurfaced following the decision of the Malacañang to suspend Carandang for 90 days for grave misconduct and other administrative offenses for disclosing Duterte and his family’s bank records.