DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. called on former senator Antonio Trillanes IV to substantiate claims that Vice President Sara Duterte received millions of pesos from China, saying that if proven true, this would have serious implications for national security.
In a statement on Saturday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro relayed Teodoro’s message, saying that the claims carry weight and warrant formal investigation by security authorities if supported by verified proof.
"He should submit the evidence in his possession, if any, to our law enforcement authorities so the matter can be thoroughly investigated,” Teodoro was quoted as saying.
Castro earlier said that if Trillanes’ allegations were proven true, it could be considered an “act of betrayal.”
“If there is sufficient evidence, this matter must not be ignored,” said Castro.
“It amounts to an act of treason against the country — especially on the part of public officials — if their silence regarding the violence inflicted upon our fishermen by foreigners, or their willingness to give away parts of our territory or rights in the West Philippine Sea, stems from having their eyes blinded by money, leading them to forsake love of country and sell out our freedom,” she said.
She noted, however, that the administration will not pass judgment unless the claims are proven, noting that Filipinos have the right to the truth.
Legal action threatened
Duterte’s camp on Saturday threatened legal action against Trillanes over what it called “malicious fabrications” against her and her family.
“The vice president would gladly sue him for these endless fabrications,” Duterte spokesman Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. said in a statement responding to Trillanes’ latest allegations involving supposed Chinese funding linked to Duterte’s husband, Manases Carpio, and an organization associated with the vice president.
Panelo, however, claimed those who made allegations against the vice president were “openly protected and propped up by this administration.”
He described Trillanes’ latest claims as “malicious fabrications” and accused the former senator of repeatedly raising allegations against the Duterte family involving extrajudicial killings, drug links, unexplained wealth, corruption and supposed connections to China.
Panelo criticized Trillanes for presenting his allegations at a press conference and not in the impeachment court, where Duterte’s defense team could not cross-examine him.
“Instead of defending his claims under oath, he chose the comfort of a safe and scripted press conference where his lies could once again go unchallenged,” Panelo said.
For the vice president, Panelo said, the evidence presented before the Senate impeachment court should determine the matter.
“Confident that the law, the facts, and the evidence are squarely on her side, the vice president will let the evidence before the Senate impeachment court speak for itself,” he said.
Trillanes on Saturday said he was fully prepared and confident over his latest accusations amid threats of legal action from the vice president’s camp.
“Bring it on,” said Trillanes when The Manila Times sought his reaction over the threat of legal action from the Duterte camp.
