Trillanes: Documents from ‘Bikoy’ pals show bank account with P8 B

MANILA, Philippines — Documents allegedly provided by Peter Joemel Advincula’s companions showed that one bank account contained a total of P8 billion.

Outgoing Senator Antonio Trillanes IV revealed this in a press conference at the Senate on Tuesday.

Trillanes said the bank account was part of the documents consisting of 700 pages handed to him last year by clergies, who took custody of Advincula.

The priests later brought Advincula to Trillanes and gave him the documents, which supposedly came from a certain Jessmark Acosta and a Dan de Vera, who are said to be members of a drug syndicate.

Trillanes, in a privilege speech last May 27, said that Acosta and De Vera are Advincula’s companions.

“By the looks of it, mayroong ledger, then meron silang parang internal accounting documents, may bank statements. So on the face ganun ang itsura niya,” he said of the documents.

Based on the documents, Trillanes said some bank accounts contained billions of pesos.

“Iba-iba kasi ‘yung nakukuha kada isang tao, iba iba e. May mas malaki, may mas maliit,” he said.

“Siguro ‘yung pinakamalaki, collectively aabot siguro ng P8 billion in a span of so many years. ‘Yung iba P5 billion, P4 billion…” he added.

Trillanes refused to identify the account holder of the said bank account pending confirmation and validation from concerned bank institutions.

Once validated, the documents would prove that there was money laundering and that the money was ill-gotten.

Asked then if there are government officials involved, Trillanes said yes.

“Some if it,” he added.

Trillanes first mentioned the document in the privilege speech where he admitted that Advincula was brought to him by clergies.

Advincula, who was allegedly fearing for his life, had sought sanctuary from the priests, who later brought him to Trillanes.

But the senator said Advincula did not pass their vetting process.

READ: Trillanes admits ‘Bikoy’ approached him last year

Advincula is claiming to be “Bikoy,” the hooded man in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, linking President Rodrigo Duterte’s relatives and allies to illegal drugs.

However, Advincula retracted his allegations and accused the Liberal Party and some opposition members, including Trillanes of orchestrating an ouster plot against Duterte. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)