Trillanes signs waiver, dares Duterte to open bank accounts

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday issued a bank secrecy waiver to open for scrutiny the 12 offshore accounts he allegedly owns.

In a press conference at the Senate, Trillanes said the waiver he issued authorizes the Office of the Ombudsman and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to look into his supposed bank accounts.

The senator, one of President Duterte’s staunchest critics, had waivers for each of his alleged accounts in 11 banks in Singapore, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Canada, all of which he denied owning.

Trillanes said that two of the 11 banks were non-existent, particularly the Hongkong Shanghai Bank in Singapore and Nova Scotia Bank in Canada.

“Sa basic lang na pagsisiyasat, may nakita tayong glaring errors that these are fabricated and manufactured,” Trillanes said.

He said he only has existing accounts in local banks.

Trillanes also dared President Duterte, whom he accused of having billions of pesos in his bank accounts, to do the same.

“Inaabangan ko itong waiver mo. Magpakalalaki ka. Hindi ka mapoprokteksyunan nitong baril mo sa tagiliran,” Trillanes said.

“Pumirma ka ng waiver addressed sa Ombudsman at AMLC kung talagang hindi ka kurakot. Pero alam ko hindi mo ‘yan gagawin kasi duwag ka,” he added. je