Digong says his money in bank runs to thousands

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte INQUIRER PHOTO

BALANGA, Bataan—Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte on Thursday admitted that he had several bank accounts, including those at the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) branch on Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig City containing P17,000 and below P50,000.

The presidential hopeful denied, however, that he had millions of pesos in his accounts and challenged Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to execute an affidavit detailing how, when, where and for what purpose did he obtain the information that he had P227 million (not P211 million as earlier reported) in the BPI Julia Vargas branch.

“I have many deposits in many banks. But I will ask him to make a statement under oath where and when he got it, for what purpose and how. File a case and I will open the accounts,” Duterte said.

He dodged the question if he was confirming the existence of the bank account at the BPI Julia Vargas branch.

“I have an account at BPI, but the deposits are not that big,” Duterte said, noting one has about P17,000, and the other below P50,000. “That was big then, but I spent it.”

He said the accusation that he had P227 million in his bank account was impossible.

Duterte is facing an accusation from Trillanes, a vice presidential candidate, that he did not declare the deposits in his account at the BPI Julia Vargas branch in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) in 2014.

In a speech before the country’s business leaders on Wednesday, Duterte called Trillanes’ allegation “fabricated” and the senator a “dangerous man.”

“Believe me, that’s garbage. You can check with the bank. You go there,” Duterte earlier said.

The mayor insinuated that Trillanes had obtained the bank information illegally.

“He made the accusation. He should do it properly. I am ready to open the bank accounts,” the tough-talking mayor said when asked about Trillanes’  challenge  to meet him on Julia Vargas Avenue at 11 p.m. on May 2.

Trillanes could face charges for breaking the bank secrecy law, which prohibits banks from giving personal and account information about their clients.

The mayor and his running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, last month signed a waiver allowing the public to scrutinize their bank accounts and even challenged their rivals to do so.

The waiver, however, was said to be not valid and could not apply to the mayor’s account with BPI.

Duterte said his BPI accounts were put up since he was a congressman.

Asked if he declared the BPI accounts in his SALN, Duterte replied: “Yes. It was listed under the ‘other accounts.’” He denied he had a joint account with his daughter Inday Sara.

In his speech before local officials of Bataan led by Gov. Albert Garcia, Duterte said the attacks against him had been stepped up.

“It (the election) is going to be  dirtier and dirtier. There are a lot of exchanges of accusations,” Duterte said.

“I could have him killed. I could have him killed. (But) I don’t kill political enemies. I only kill criminals,” Duterte said.