Trillanes: Duterte admission of being ‘corrupt’ to strengthen raps before Ombudsman

Senator Antonio Trillanes on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte’s supposed admission that he is corrupt should not be perceived as a “joke” and instead should urge the Ombudsman to speed up the plunder case he filed against Duterte.

Trillanes was referring to a speech Duterte made before the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association two weeks ago, wherein the President said: “I hate corruption. Hindi ako nagmamalinis. Marami rin ako ninakaw pero naubos na, so wala na.”

Trillanes, who filed a plunder case against Duterte last year, said such statement should be taken as is -- that the President himself admitted he is corrupt.

“What do you expect now from somebody who is corrupt? Eh 'di wala nang maayos,” Trillanes said in an interview.

Trillanes said all remarks coming from the President should be taken seriously.

“Hindi pe-pwede yung [nagpapatawa]. Siya ang Presidente ng Pilipinas. Ang assumption natin palagi, lahat nang lumabas sa bibig niya ay totoo at kapanipaniwala. So admission 'yan against his interest,” he said.

“Dapat bigyan ng halaga 'yan. Sana 'yan ang maging signal na paspasan ang investigation sa plunder case na finile ko,” Trillanes added.

In May 2016, Trillanes filed a plunder case against Duterte before the Office of the Ombudsman over the President’s alleged unexplained wealth and the supposed hiring of 11,000 ghost employees. —ALG/KVD, GMA News