Duterte warns BSP, AMLC: Cooperate or I will go to you

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday warned officials of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for being "hard to deal with."

"I'd like to address myself to the Central Bank guys and the AMLC. Alam mo, I'd like to warn you to avoid a confrontation between us, Central Bank people," Duterte said in his speech at the 80th founding anniversary of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Duterte recalled the time when he was accused of having over P200 million of amount in his bank account during the campaign period.

He was referring to the exposé of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on his alleged questionable bank accounts.

"I was just curious. If I had that money, why did you not initiate an investigation? For really I have none," he said.

Duterte also accused AMLC and the BSP of "protecting somebody, those who are really into money laundering."

The President also said in his speech that according to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, the BSP and AMLC "are hard to deal with."

"You better go to the Secretary of Justice or I will go to you. I will call for you and you have to answer so many questions to me. You choose: either you cooperate in this government as a Republic to protect and serve our people or do not make it hard for us. Otherwise, I will make it hard for you," he added.

Duterte did not say which case the DOJ is asking for cooperation from the AMLC and BSP.

Earlier in his speech, Duterte revealed that the government is looking into the records of one person who set up a corporation allegedly to launder money. He said the amount they were looking into was P5.1 billion.   —ALG/KBK, GMA News