SENATOR Antonio F. Trillanes IV on Monday, Sept. 11, disputed President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s claim that he had overseas accounts, saying that some of the banks mentioned by the President were non-existent.

Meanwhile, the Senate Ethics Committee, chaired by Senator Vicente C. Sotto III, found the ethics complaint filed by Senator Richard J. Gordon against Mr. Trillanes sufficient in form and substance.

In his press conference on Monday, Mr. Trillanes presented a signed waiver to have the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) investigate his alleged off-shore accounts at the Hongkong Shanghai Bank — Raffles and Premiere Center Auckland Branch, UBS Bank Switzerland — Zurich Branch, Habib A.G. Bank — Zurich Main Branch, Deutsche Bank — Geneve Main Branch, Nova Scotia Bank — Toronto Main Branch, ANZ Bank — Auckland Main Branch, Equitable Bank — Toronto Main Branch, DBS Bank — Alexandra Branch, CIM Bank — Geneve Main Branch, and ComerzBank A.G. Bank — Zurich Branch.

“Consistent with the foregoing principle and to debunk false allegations being circulated that I have secret bank accounts with various offshore banks, I am hereby voluntarily executing this waiver and I am authorizing the Office of the Ombudsman and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to open and look into the supposed bank accounts (including closed accounts if any) allegedly under my name,” the senator said in his sworn waiver.

Mr. Trillanes also said he plans to file libel cases against journalists Erwin Tulfo and Ben Tesiorna and social media personality Mocha Unson for “spreading fake news.” The three have also accused Mr. Trillanes of maintaining offshore accounts.

As for his ethics case, Mr. Trillanes said he respects the decision of the committee.

“I will submit to the process. I will face it wholeheartedly because I am confident that I didn’t do anything unparliamentary,” he said.

Mr. Trillanes added that he will submit his ethics complaint against Mr. Gordon later this week or early next week. — MMB

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