(Photo: Rody Duterte/Facebook)
MANILA—PDP-LABAN standard bearer Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said he will only open his Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI) account only if Sen. Antonio Trillanes will sign an affidavit and files a case against him.
Trillanes claimed that such BPI account contained Php211 million.
Duterte also dared Trillanes to present himself before officials of the BPI Julia Vargas branch in Pasig this coming Monday.
The PDP-LABAN standard bearer will be represented by his legal counsel, Atty. Salvador Panelo.
Duterte is scheduled to visit Zamboanga City on Monday.
He also asked the media to witness the face-off between Trillanes and Panelo.
“Pumunta man kaya si Trillanes, at least, I can tell him what’s inside my account. Bahala na sila ni Sal(vador) Panelo mag-argue dyan,” he added.
Duterte earlier said that the Julia Vargas BPI account is indeed existing — with a “little lesser than” Php211 million content.
He told the media that the deposits are real, but was quick to say that “ang sinabi ko ay wala akong deposito na ganoon kalaki.”
“I might have said it in a different way, but I didn’t say that I have deposits that big.”
Commenting on the claim that a series of transfers were made during his birthday, Duterte said “ibig sabihin niyan, marami akong kaibigan na mayaman.”
Pressed further to comment on the source of the money, he said “bigay (gift).”
“Alang(an)naman hinold-up ko,” he said.
On Monday, he said he expects Trillanes to go to the Julia Vargas Pasay branch.
“Doon siya (Trillanes) magpunta,” said Duterte. “Gusto ko nga mag-execute siya ng affidavit, para legal. Put them in black and white…para totohanan talaga. Hindi lang tsismis.”
If Trillanes will sign an affidavit, Duterte vowed to open his account.
“Kaya pumunta siya doon. Kailangan dala nya ang affidavit,” the Mindanawon presidential candidate said.
He said “I just want it proper.”
“You execute an affidavit, you accuse the person, then the person, if he so desires, open (his bank account),” he said.
He admitted that the Julia Vargas BPI branch account has a less than Php200 million.
Asked why the money was not indicated in his statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN), he said he has already spent the money.
“Wala na. Nagastos ko na. Nag-happy-happy ako,” he said in jest.
Trillanes said the money was transferred to Duterte’s bank account in 2014, in time for his birthday.
“Marami pala akong kaibigan,” Duterte said when pressed for comments.
He said the money was not ‘ill gotten’.
“Panelo will explain it to you,” Duterte said.