DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan – I can handle a plunderer.
This was the statement of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday when sought for reaction to the challenge made by Vice President Jejomar Binay that all presidential candidates be subjected to a bank inquiry by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
READ: Binay dares rivals anew: Sign AMLC waiver, release health records
Dressed in brown coat and denim pants, Duterte minced no words in blasting Binay over allegations of corruption in Makati when he was mayor.
Duterte said it was the Office of the Ombudsman itself which conducted an investigation and indicted Binay for graft and corruption over the alleged overpricing of the Makati car park building.
READ: Ombudsman finds probable cause to charge VP Binay with graft
“He is a certified plunderer. Alam mo kung sinong nag-certify? The Ombudsman,” Duterte told reporters on the sidelines of the last Commission on Elections debate at the University of Pangasinan.
“Anytime, I can talk to a plunderer. I am a trial lawyer, I can always talk to a plunderer,” he added.
Duterte said even though Binay signed a waiver to subject himself to an AMLC investigation, Binay’s alleged ill-gotten wealth is hidden in the bank accounts of purported dummies.
Duterte said unlike Binay, he only has reasonable worth of lifetime savings.
“His (Binay’s) money is in the name of different persons, even his maid has P80 million. Would you believe it?” Duterte said.
“My lifetime savings is about P4 million. Yung kaniya kinuha niya, nilipat niya sa ibang pangalan kaya matapang siya,” Duterte said.
Duterte made the statement after Binay reiterated on Sunday his challenge to his rivals in the presidential race to subject themselves to an investigation by the AMLC and show medical certificate proving they are fit to run for president.
Duterte did not answer questions that he be subjected to another psychological test, after he was reported to have been diagnosed to have “antisocial narcissistic personality disorder” which supposedly could explain why he could openly support summary killings and joke about the rape-slay of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill.
Binay earlier signed a waiver allowing the AMLC to investigate his bank accounts. He has dared the other candidates to sign the same. He also released a medical certificate that showed him physically fit to run for president.
He made the plea as the AMLC investigated Binay’s alleged joint accounts with his purported fronts to stash away billions in deposits.
READ: AMLC: Binay got billions