The spokesperson of Vice President Sara Duterte brushed off the allegations of former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV linking her to Chinese money, drug money, and undeclared time deposits, calling his press conference a “media stunt” and saying his statements have no legal leg to stand on.
Lawyer Paolo Panelo also chided Trillanes for withdrawing as a witness in Duterte’s impeachment trial and holding a press conference instead.
“Yet, the moment he was faced with the very first opportunity to test his wild claims against actual facts, verified records, and law through cross-examination by the Vice President’s defense team, Trillanes folded. 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 in a statement.
“This sudden retreat is absolute proof that his claims cannot survive real legal scrutiny, and are nothing but black propaganda, which is par for the course for a professional character assassin,” he added.
He said Duterte’s legal team is prepared to refute any of Trillanes’ claims if these are brought before the Impeachment Court.
“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. Her defense team stands ready to refute whatever Trillanes accusation the prosecution believes is even credible enough for the Court’s serious consideration,” he said.
Trillanes, after withdrawing as a prosecution witness, held a press conference accusing Duterte and her husband of receiving funds from China. He also alleged that Duterte received money from an alleged drug lord and had declared peso and dollar time deposits.
Panelo did not address the specifics of Trillanes’ claims, but he accused the former senator of peddling “exhausted lies” against the Duterte family since 2016.
He also alleged that witnesses linked to Trillanes have either turned the tables on him or been discredited.
He also said Duterte would be glad to file a case against Trillanes, but he also said those attacking her are just be protected by the administration.
“The Vice President would gladly sue him for these endless fabrications, but we have already witnessed how those who actively peddle malicious lies against her and her family are openly protected and propped up by this administration, as clearly seen in the cases of Ramil Madriaga and their latest pawn, Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.,” he said.