VP Sara Duterte, Mans Carpio accepted money from China --Trillanes

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Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV accused Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Maneses Carpio, of respectively accepting P150 million and P319 million through their separate organizations.

In a "24 Oras" report from Sandra Aguinaldo on Friday, Trillanes presented the evidence he was supposed to show the impeachment court before the prosecution removed him as a witness.

“Tumanggap sila ng P150 million from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, itong foundation ni Sara Duterte,” Trillanes said.

(Sara Duterte’s foundation accepted P150 million from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.)

Trillanes also alleged that Carpio received P319 million from the Chinese government through his company.

“Ito na ang paraan ng China ng pagsuporta sa mag-asawang Duterte, maliwanag po ito. Kaya dapat kikilabutan po tayo rito, kasi vice president po siya, may national security implications, bawal po yan,” Trillanes said.

(This is how China is supporting the Duterte couple; it is clear. So we should be afraid, because she is the vice president; there is a national security concern, this is not allowed.)

GMA News has sought the reaction of the Vice President's camp and will update the story once it is available.

Duterte also allegedly failed to declare in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth her peso and dollar time deposit and insurance, the former lawmaker said.

Trillanes said that he himself initiated his removal as a witness in Duterte’s impeachment trial to remove pressure from the prosecution panel, however, he did not disclose further details about this.

“Sa akin naman kasi the signal is clear. Hindi ako welcome,” Trillanes said. (For me, the signal is clear. I am not welcome.)

He also criticized impeachment presiding officer Chiz Escudero for his handling of the proceedings, saying that he should be more liberal.

“Bantayan niyo yung presiding officer. That's what I'm saying. Tignan nyo,” Trillanes said. (Guard the presiding officer. That's what I'm saying. Look at him.)

Impeachment court spokesperson Regie Tongol dismissed the claim that Trillanes was not welcome, as he was treated like a guest when he attended the trial. —LDF, GMA News