Davao City Mayor and Presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday denied the existence of a Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) account allegedly in his name that contained P211 million.
鈥淭he account is not true and is just a fabrication of [Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV], who is a money for hire,鈥� the presidential candidate told the Inquirer.
Duterte said he would not issue a waiver for the specific account.
鈥淚 will not play into their hands by issuing a waiver. The account is nonexistent,鈥� Duterte said.
The mayor, however, confirmed that he had an apartment on P. Guevarra Street in San Juan City.
The spokesperson of Duterte said documents purportedly showing that the mayor had P211 million in a bank account were fabricated.
鈥淪orry, we cannot comment until we see it, but now I can tell you it鈥檚 a lie, a fabrication and black propaganda. Documents can be fabricated,鈥� Pete Lavi帽a earlier told the Inquirer when asked to comment on the alleged millions that was not reported in Duterte鈥檚 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for 2014.
鈥淲e also urge them to come out and prove that the bank accounts were his,鈥� Lavi帽a added.
He said the timing of the release of the information was suspicious.
鈥淭hey are trying to throw everything at him, like some pornographic photos and now the supposed secret accounts not in SALN,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 2014, why only now?鈥�
Lavi帽a said Duterte was pulling away from his rivals in the presidential race because people were fed up with 鈥渢rapo鈥� (traditional politicians) and character assassination.
鈥淲e have been saying from the beginning, the more they hit him, the more people love him,鈥� Lavi帽a said.