Trillanes slams Pimentel for instantly rejecting Senate probe on Duterte’s ‘ill-gotten’ wealth

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel (left) and Sen. Antonio Trillanes INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV hit Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday for immediately rejecting a Senate investigation on President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth.

“Masyado naman s’yang ninenerbyos agad para sa amo n’ya,” Trillanes said of Pimentel.

“Besides, it was Duterte himself who challenged the Senate to investigate his bank account. So, ito na ang sagot sa hamon ng amo n’ya,” he added.

Trillanes was reacting to Pimentel’s statement that the Senate was not the proper body to look into the alleged unexplained wealth of Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio based on reports that the father and daughter had a combined deposits and investments of more than P100 million at the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

“If he (Trillanes) really has the evidence then he should bring an actual case in the proper body. (The) Senate is not the body for that. We are part of legislative action,” Pimentel said.

“But if this is part of just making this issue land in the news then this should not be allowed. It will be a tragic waste of time by the Senate,” he added.

READ: Trillanes asks Senate to probe ‘ill-gotten’ wealth of Duterte, Sara

But Trillanes argued that his resolution seeking for the Senate inquiry into the issue was “valid” and should be referred to the Senate committee on banks chaired by Senator Francis Escudero.

“This would just be part of the oversight functions of the Senate,” he said. “Senator Pimentel, even as Senate President, has no power to disallow its referral.”                     /kga