Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (L) and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER/CDN FILE PHOTOS
Leading presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte is considering filing charges against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV听for his claims that the tough-talking Davao City mayor did not declare听 P211 million in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).
In a statement to the media听on Thursday, Peter Lavi帽a, Duterte鈥檚 spokesperson, said the mayor鈥檚 legal experts are looking into听 possible cases that can be filed against Trillanes.
READ: Duterte dares Trillanes to prove allegations on SALN听
Duterte signed a waiver in March that would allow for the opening of bank accounts for public scrutiny. But the mayor backtracked from his earlier pronouncement.
鈥淣ot anymore. I鈥檒l make it difficult for Trillanes. It鈥檚 just a piece of paper. You prove it. Why will I give it to him?听 I鈥檒l take the waiver and I will tell him, 鈥楶rove it. I will not make it easy for you. I will not play into your hands. You prove it,鈥欌�� Duterte told reporters in a mix of Filipino and English in an ambush interview on the sidelines of the Presidential Dialogue with the Makati Business Club听on Wednesday.
Trillanes said Duterte had at least P211 million in an account at a bank branch in Metro Manila in 2014. The senator said the mayor did not declare the P211 million in his SALN.
During his speech before business leaders, Duterte described Trillanes as a 鈥渄angerous man,鈥� citing the senator鈥檚 allegations as 鈥渇abricated.鈥�
鈥淢aniwala kayo (Believe me). That鈥檚 garbage. You can check with the bank. You go there,鈥� said Duterte.
READ: A fabrication, says Duterte who will not issue waiver
The mayor earlier called Trillanes an 鈥渋diot鈥� after the senator claimed that Duterte had told him how he killed people kneeling before him.
鈥淚 told you, he is a liar. He fabricated this,鈥� Duterte said.
READ: Duterte on Trillanes: 鈥楤e careful with that idiot鈥�
He said Trillanes was paid to attack him after he took a wide lead in recent presidential surveys.
鈥淭his is election. End game na eh,鈥� he said. CDG/rga
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