Duterte’s bank waiver backtrack stirs doubts among lawmakers

Former President Rodrigo Duterte attends the House quad committee hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (Photo from House of Representatives Media Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s shifting stance on signing a bank waiver to disclose his alleged P2.4-billion accounts has left lawmakers baffled, with some questioning his consistency and sincerity during a recent House committee hearing.

House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said he sought clarification after Duterte initially assured lawmakers he would sign the waiver unconditionally.

“So, is it now the understanding of the committee that when the former President was asked by Chairman [Romeo] Acop that the President be willing to sign any waiver, would that be safe to assume…that that would be ‘conditional’?” Adiong asked during the hearing.

Adiong said Duterte’s initial statements appeared clear and straightforward. “When the former President right away answered the question of Acop, I presume that it was actually in the affirmative and it was actually in all candidness [and] all honesty.”

Duterte had originally declared, “I’ll sign the waiver tomorrow (Nov. 14),” and reiterated his willingness during an exchange with Adiong. “The waiver? Yes,” he responded promptly.

Duterte even stated he was prepared to go to great lengths to prove his innocence. “I’m willing to execute an affidavit, to summon the bank pursuant to my waiver. If there is an iota of truth, I will ask my daughter to resign and all members of my family. I will also hang myself in front of you,” he said.

However, Duterte later introduced conditions, particularly when addressing former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a longtime critic seated nearby. “But Trillanes should also hang himself too,” Duterte said.

Duterte then cited the conjugal nature of his financial accounts as a potential hurdle. “My problem is that that bank account is joint with my wife. So, I cannot waive her right to secrecy. I myself have no problem with that. The problem is that it is a joint account,” he explained.

He added, “I have to ask my wife to appear here and to ask her if she is ready to waive the bank secrecy law. The problem is: What is the purpose of this investigation? Am I under investigation? Why are you asking for my bank accounts?”

Rep. Gerville Luistro of Batangas’ second district, a lawyer, also noted inconsistencies in Duterte’s testimony. “The President made his testimonies inconsistent. I don’t know why,” Luistro said in a television interview.

Trillanes dismissed Duterte’s claim that the account was joint with his wife, clarifying that records showed it was a joint account with Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Just for the record, the joint account is between Duterte and VP Sara Duterte – not the wife. Those are the bank records that are in our custody,” Trillanes said.

He accused Duterte of bluffing about his willingness to sign the waiver. “Just like what I anticipated earlier, that he’s been saying he is willing to sign a waiver. At the same time, it’s always a bluff. Now, he’s saying he will slap me first before he signs the waiver. I will agree, provided he should first sign the bank waiver,” Trillanes insisted.