Trillanes’ rehashed allegation just ‘political noise’—Palace

Malacanang belittled on Thursday Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s rehashed allegation about President Rodrigo Duterte’s bank deposits, calling it part of political noise. (Photo: Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV/ Facebook)

MANILA—Malacanang belittled on Thursday Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s rehashed allegation about President Rodrigo Duterte’s bank deposits, calling it part of political noise.

“Basically, he is just bringing out old issues. It’s a rehashed of items that have already been discussed three days before elections. I mean this part of the noise of political landscape,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a media briefing.

Abella challenged Trillanes to go to proper authorities “if he truly has something in mind” against President Duterte.

“It’s best to just do it according to due process,” he said.

On Thursday, Trillanes revived his May 2016 elections claim that President Duterte had a total of more than PHP2 billion bank deposits from 2006 to 2015.

Trillanes also alleged that President Duterte’s campaign contributor Samuel ‘Sammy’ Uy gave nearly PHP120 million pesos to different members of the President’s family from 2011 to 2013.

Incumbent Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte denied Trillanes’ claim based on bank documents given to him by a concerned citizen.

“If Trillanes can show where my alleged PHP121 million is right now and how it became illegal, let’s get and I will give to you all,” the presidential daughter said.

“I read the press statement of Trillanes and the challenge to answer the allegations was addressed to the President. Let’s allow PRD to decide on how he wants this issue to go down,” she added.

“If necessary and if within the right context, due process, you know. But not just to response to some grandstander,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abella called Trillanes as “very dramatic” when the senator claimed that President Duterte wanted to kill him.