Trillanes names supposed source of Duterte info on offshore bank accounts

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday named the supposed source of President Rodrigo Duterte's expose of offshore bank accounts.

In a privilege speech, Trillanes said that a certain Daniel "Snooky" Cruz was the source of information of Duterte's claim that Trillanes maintained hidden wealth abroad, which the senator has sought to debunk.

"Ito pong taong ito ay nagpapanggap na well-connected sa US embassy, dating federal agent at kaya niya magkaron ng access sa kahit anong bank accounts sa buong mundo," Trillanes said of Cruz, who supposedly claims to be a “financial forensic expert.”

“Base sa ating bubwit…itong si Mr. Daniel ‘Snooky’ Cruz ay ibinenta ang impormasyon na’to,” he said.

Trillanes claimed that the government paid P10 million for the information, of which only P3 million was supposedly paid to Cruz.

According to Trillanes, the fake information was given by Cruz to Malacañang last August 31. The senator also presented a photo of Cruz with Duterte taken on the same date.

“So talagang nahuli natin. Buti na lang, may mga nagmamalakasakit na PMAers diyan sa Malacañang na nagbisto kay Mr. Cruz at sinabi sa 'kin yung detalye,” Trillanes said.

Trillanes also presented Cruz’s photos taken with Duterte, presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, and PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

The senator said Cruz also tried to sell the same fake bank account details last year, but linked those to Senator Leila de Lima. Trillanes said Cruz stated the same DBS Bank and the Alexandra branch, where he is being accused of having an account.

“Yung kay De Lima, binenta last year sa isang Cabinet official ng Duterte administration pero nung vinalidate ng ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, na-find out na peke kaya hindi nilabas at buti naman dahil hindi siya nasunog,” Trillanes said.

De Lima, also a staunch critic of Duterte, is presently detained at the national police headquarters over drug-related charges she has repeatedly denied.GMA News Online has reached out to Cruz for comment.

Duterte earlier accused Trillanes of owning overseas bank accounts in several countries, including Singapore.

Trillanes signed waivers for supposed offshore accounts circulated on social media, as well as one mentioned by Duterte in a previous interview. Last month, the senator visited DBS Bank in Singapore, where he was told that the supposed accounts did not exist.

Duterte responded by saying he had simply made up the account number to fool Trillanes.

The senator said it only proved that Duterte was a liar, and dared the President to sign waivers to open up his bank accounts. —JST, GMA News