Senator Miriam Santiago reacts to Rodrigo Duterte’s current issues.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago called on her fellow presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte to come clean about the allegations against him. This was after Senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that he has ill-gotten and hidden wealth.
Speaking to the Philstar, Senator Santiago said that she was very surprised when he heard about the issue because they have been friends and she knows that he has simple lifestyle.
Senator Trillanes earlier claimed that Duterte has P211 million on his BPI account in Pasig City. He also revealed that he has 41 properties across the country to which some are named under a dummy property owner.
According to the lady Senator, Duterte was the leading candidate, but he suddenly fell because of his uncertain answers about the allegations. She said that it has to be detailed to be considered as credible.
“He was at the head of the pack, then all of a sudden, he falls because his answers on the bank deposits are very vague. They do not make any sense. You have to have details to be credible, especially if you’re defending yourself,” she said.
PDP-Laban spokesperson Peter Laviña earlier denied the existence of BPI accounts. But shortly after, Duterte admitted that it does exist but it contained less than P211 million.
When asked about the credibility of Senator Trillanes’ claims, Senator Santiago said that documents were likely from the government, noting that he is an ally of administration.
Senator Santiago thinks that Senator Trillanes’ got the information from Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Yesterday, Duterte’s lawyer Atty. Salvador Panelo and Senator Trillanes went to the BPI branch to clarify the issue.