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Ombudsman starts probe on Dutertes’ wealth after finding basis in Trillanes complaint


The complaint filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has sufficient basis for the Office of the Ombudsman to start its probe on the alleged multi-billion-peso wealth of President Rodrigo Duterte and his family, Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang said.

Carandang said he had been authorized by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to act on the complaint of Trillanes and has already requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council for a final validation on the bank transaction records of the first family.

He added that initial bank records show the flow of money through deposits and withdrawals from Duterte's sons, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo and Sebastian "Baste," and his joint accounts with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

Carandang said the accounts of Duterte's common-law wife, Honeylet Avancena, and their daughter, Kitty, were also included in the records obtained by the Ombudsman.

Carandang said the same complaint of Trillanes was sufficient enough for the AMLC to conduct an inquiry on the bank accounts of Duterte's family.

In August, Trillanes claimed that the Office of the Ombudsman was in possession of AMLC records regarding Duterte's alleged flagged bank transactions in various bank accounts involving P2 billion in deposits and credits.

"Based on credible sources, as early as April last year, the Office of the Ombudsman has received official AMLC documents showing flagged transactions in Duterte's various bank accounts which totals more than 2 billion pesos in deposits and credits," the staunch Duterte critic said.

Morales had earlier said she will recuse herself from any case involving Duterte since Sara's husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, is her nephew. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/MDM, GMA News

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