Prosecution: Bank, tax records may back Trillanes claims vs Sara Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Bank and tax records that are set to be presented next week before the Senate impeachment court could help determine whether allegations made by former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV against Vice President Sara Duterte have factual basis, the prosecution team said Saturday.

The team was referring to Trillanes’ claims that Duterte had time deposits in local currency and in US dollars in 2007 and 2008 which she supposedly did not declare in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

“[…] Let us wait and see, based on the testimonies of upcoming witnesses and the records we examine, whether these financial transactions align with what we heard from former Senator Trillanes,” private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said at the Saturday News Forum.

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What Trillanes presented, however, has “no probative value” at this point, according to Senator-judge Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.

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“First of all, that was a press conference. Secondly, it isn’t even part of the court record. So how could it possibly have probative value?” Lacson said in a dwIZ interview. “Now, it is up to the prosecution to present a witness who holds the documents presented by Senator Trillanes.”

“The source of the official records should be the one to testify—not by relying on a third party, so to speak, who lacks personal knowledge,” he added.

The prosecution is set to present representatives from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, banks and financial institutions, and Bureau of Internal Revenue next week as witnesses.

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READ: Duterte: No formal document yet to summon me to impeachment court

Trillanes was initially included on the list of witnesses the House prosecution was supposed to present, but the former senator decided to withdraw from the trial and held a press conference on Friday instead where he revealed the contents of his testimony.

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Legal scrutiny

Duterte’s lawyers on Saturday dismissed Trillanes’ recent allegations as just “malicious fabrications” and “black propaganda,” noting that his refusal to appear before the impeachment court shows that the claims cannot survive legal scrutiny.

“The moment he was faced with the very first opportunity to test his wild claims against actual facts, verified records, and law through cross-examination by the Vice President’s defense team, Trillanes folded. Instead of defending his claims under oath, he chose the comfort of a safe and scripted press conference where his lies could once again go unchallenged,” said lawyer Paolo Panelo Jr. in a statement.

“This sudden retreat is absolute proof that his claims cannot survive real legal scrutiny, and are nothing but black propaganda, which is par for the course for a professional character assassin,” he added.

Panelo, who serves as Duterte’s spokesperson, said the Vice President would not be taking legal action against the former lawmaker, citing the protection he supposedly enjoys from the Marcos administration.

‘Pawns’

“The Vice President would gladly sue him for these endless fabrications, but we have already witnessed how those who actively peddle malicious lies against her and her family are openly protected and propped up by this administration,” he said.

Asked for clarification, Panelo said: “I wouldn’t rule out (suing Trillanes), but we are aware of how futile it will be in terms of getting a just result under this current administration.”

He said Trillanes is one of the many “pawns” the administration is using to smear Dutertes. The others, he said, are Ramil Madriaga, the alleged former aide of the Vice President; Peter Advincula, known as “Bikoy,” who linked the Duterte family to the illegal drug trade; and dismissed police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., who supposedly served as security detail for former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Panelo also likened Trillanes’ accusations to previous claims that held no water, including that of the late lawyer Jude Sabio’s, who ended up withdrawing his communication from the International Criminal Court against former President Rodrigo Duterte; and Arturo Lascañas, a self-proclaimed member of the Davao Death Squad who accused the Vice President of being one of the architects of “Oplan Tokhang.”

Trillanes’ decision not to appear before the Senate impeachment court right when Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth was being tackled further put into question the veracity of his accusations, he said.

“Confident that the law, the facts, and the evidence are squarely on her side, the Vice President will let the evidence before the Senate impeachment court speak for itself,” Panelo said.

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“Her defense team stands ready to refute whatever Trillanes accusation the prosecution believes is even credible enough for the court’s serious consideration,” he added. INQ