Trillanes to question referral of reso to probe Duterte ‘accounts’ to Gordon’s panel

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Tuesday he will question the referral of his resolution seeking a probe into the “possible violation” of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) by President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to the blue ribbon committee. 

Trillanes, in Senate Resolution 602, asked the Senate banks, financial institutions, and currencies committee headed by Senator Francis Escudero to conduct the probe but it was eventually referred to the blue ribbon committee headed by Senator Richard Gordon as the primary committee.

“Kukuwestyunin ko ‘yan kasi ngayon iniimbestigahan ng Senate banks committee si (former) Comelec chairman  (Andres Bautista) about bank accounts din. I don’t see any difference and willing naman si Sen. Escudero to hear it,” he told reporters.

Asked if he will raise the matter on the Senate floor, Trillanes said he will talk to his colleagues first.

“Internally lang muna, not necessarily on the floor,” he said.

He said the resolution could be referred jointly which would allow the secondary committee to conduct a separate investigation.

He said his resolution is about the loopholes in the Anti-Money Laundering Law.

“Ito tungkol sa pagtsek sa loopholes at weaknesses ng Anti-Money Laundering Law which falls directly sa banks committee,” he said.

Trillanes said Duterte can get rid of him if his accusations against the latter are wrong.

“Paulit ulit ito kasi hindi nila hinaharap. Iyon lang waiver ang katapat nito tapos na ang kalaban nila sa pulitika, tapos na ako, malilinis na ang pangalan nila and they can get rid of me at the same time,” he said.

He also reiterated his challenge to the President.

“If what I have is nothing but garbage, then why are they panicking? And why can't Mr. Duterte just accept my challenge for him to sign a waiver and if I am wrong in my allegations then I would resign immediately as senator and voluntarily walk in any jail of his choice?” he said.

Waste of time

Majority Floor Leader Tito Sotto said Trillanes’ proposal on the committee referral is possible.

“Ngayon ‘yung sinabi na ‘yung secondary committee gusto nya i-take up eh di kakausapin lang niya ‘yung chairman ng primary committee, sasabihin niya magpapaalam lang sya na maghe-hearing siya. Pwede ‘yun,” he told reporters.

Asked if he thinks the probe should push through, Sotto believes it was just a waste of time.

“Hindi (na kailangan ‘yan). Susmaryosep 2015 pa ‘yan. Wala namang pinuntahan ‘yung issue na ‘yan. ultimo AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) kinakaila eh, saan ka pupunta diyan? It’s a waste of time e,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News