Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp charged back at former senator Antonio Trillanes IV over his latest allegations against the Duterte family, accusing him of reviving claims that it says have repeatedly been discredited.
In a statement Saturday, Duterte spokesperson and lawyer Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. said Trillanes had again raised allegations involving extrajudicial killings (EJKs), illegal drugs, unexplained wealth, corruption and supposed links to China.
“Since 2016, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV has been peddling the same exhausted lies regarding Extrajudicial Killings (EJKs), fabricated drug links, imaginary unexplained wealth, baseless corruption allegations, and fictional China connections against the Duterte family,” Panelo said.
Panelo issued the statement after Trillanes held a press conference instead of appearing as a prosecution witness in the impeachment proceedings against Duterte. Trillanes had been expected to testify before the Senate impeachment court but was later dropped by the House prosecution panel.
At the press conference, Trillanes said he was not welcome before the impeachment court and proceeded to present allegations involving the vice president and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
He alleged that Duterte and Carpio received millions of pesos allegedly linked to Chinese government and corporate sources. He also claimed that the vice president had undeclared time deposits and life insurance policies in previous Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
Panelo questioned Trillanes’ decision to present the allegations outside the formal impeachment proceedings, where he could have faced cross-examination by Duterte’s defense team.
“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.
The defense team had earlier sought additional time to examine Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records involving Duterte and Carpio.
The impeachment court subsequently moved the presentation of the AMLC witness to October 5, 2026.
Panelo also cited previous allegations against the Duterte family involving Peter Joemel Advincula, known as “Bikoy,” lawyer Jude Sabio and former police officer Arturo Lascañas.
“His malicious fabrications have been exposed at every turn by the very pawns he used to rely on,” Panelo said.
He also questioned Trillanes’ earlier appearance before the House Justice Committee, where the former senator presented allegations based on financial records, saying Trillanes was not subjected to cross-examination by Duterte’s defense team.
In April, the AMLC confirmed that 19 of the 71 transactions presented by Trillanes matched entries in its records. The confirmation established that the transactions matched AMLC records but, by itself, did not establish the broader allegations Trillanes associated with those transactions.
Trillanes has maintained that his allegations are supported by official documents.
“Lahat po yan ay backed up by official documents. Di tayo gumagawa ng kathang-isip na allegations,” Trillanes said.
Panelo also accused the administration of protecting individuals who have made allegations against Duterte and her family, citing Ramil Madriaga and Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.
“The vice president would gladly sue him for these endless fabrications,” Panelo said.
He added that those who allegedly spread malicious claims against Duterte and her family were “openly protected and propped up by this administration.”
The House prosecution panel, meanwhile, said Trillanes’ latest statements could not be used as a basis for questioning witnesses in the impeachment proceedings because they were made outside the trial.
Panelo said Duterte’s defense team would instead address the allegations through the evidence formally presented before the Senate 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 accusation Trillanes makes that the prosecution believes is even credible enough for the Court’s serious consideration,” Panelo said.
