Trillanes won’t explain pressure, hits Escudero for not issuing subpoena

MANILA, Philippines — While he declined to answer questions on what was the cause of the pressure on the prosecution panel, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has called out Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero for singling him out regarding the issuance of subpoenas.

In a press briefing on Friday, Trillanes said he really wants to address the reason why he asked the prosecution to remove him from the list of witnesses for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, but he is concerned that his explanation might overshadow his revelations.

According to Trillanes, there will be a time to address these matters.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Ganito po.  Nais ko sanang i-address ‘yan pero kasi magiging distraction ‘yan doon sa main issue na gusto nating mapag-usapan na mas importante.  Hindi naman ako petty na tao,” Trillanes said.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

(It’s like this.  I want to address this issue but it will be a distraction from the main issue that is more important to discuss.  I am not a petty person.)

“I will deal with those people behind ‘yong pressure na ‘yan later on.  ‘Pag medyo maluwag-luwag na ‘yong oras ko,” he added.

(I will deal with those people behind this pressure later on.  Once I have more time to spare.)

However, Trillanes also lashed out against Escudero for not issuing a subpoena for him — being the only witness listed by the prosecution in its manifestation for Article II of the Articles of Impeachment who did not get an order.

Article continues after this advertisement

The former senator said he would have loved to testify before the impeachment court, but he felt that he was not welcome as the presiding officer did not release a subpoena for him.

“Andodoon na nga ako eh kahit na (not called)… ganito, ganito ka-simple, nag-request ‘yong prosecution ng mga isa-subpoena.  My name was there last week, bumalik ‘yong mga subpoena ako lang ‘yong wala.  Meron bang power nang ganyan ‘yong impeachment court?  May power ba ‘yong presiding officer (na sabihing) ‘wag na muna ito?” he asked.

Article continues after this advertisement

(I was there already even if I was (not called)… it’s this simple, the prosecution requested subpoenas for a list of witnesses.  My name was there last week, the subpoenas returned, except for mine.  Does the impeachment court have such a power?  Does the presiding officer have the power [to say] we should not present this?)

“So the signal is clear na I’m not welcome there. Ito na, I presented it. Then ‘yong mga findings namin, ipapasa na namin sa prosecution so that pwede na nila ding matanong in a larger context ‘yong mga resource persons nila later on,” he added.

(So the signal is clear that I’m not welcome there.  So what I did is this, to present this.  Then our findings, we will pass this to the prosecution so that they can raise questions about this in a larger context to their resource persons later on.)

Last September 24, the prosecution submitted to the Senate Impeachment Court a manifestation containing the list of witnesses it intends to present from September 28 to October 2.

Listed are several individuals expected to shed light on allegations that Duterte has unexplained wealth — from Trillanes, officials of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, the Land Registration Authority, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and even Duterte’s younger brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte.

However, the said officials were presented by the prosecution save for Trillanes.  On Thursday, lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro manifested before open court that they will no longer present Trillanes.

The former senator then explained that it was him who asked Luistro to remove his name from the prosecution’s list of witnesses, meant to remove pressure from the prosecution panel.

READ: Trillanes: I asked Luistro to drop me as witness in Duterte trial

Trillanes has been considered as a crucial witness to establish the prosecution’s case for Article II, as he had been claiming for several years now that Duterte and members of her family — including her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte — had hidden bank accounts not stated in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

Last April 22, when the House of Representatives’ committee on justice held confirmatory hearings regarding the two impeachment complaints, Trillanes presented several bank accounts supposedly owned by the vice president.

Later on, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) through Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura confirmed that several financial transactions mentioned by Trillanes were the same fund movements that they have flagged or monitored.

READ: Trillanes vindicated: AMLC confirms Sara Duterte’s 18 transactions 

Trillanes’ revelations on Friday, meanwhile, concerned allegations that a foundation where Duterte is a member of the Board of Trustees, and a company of her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, allegedly received funds from the Chinese government.

According to Trillanes, there are several red flags concerning CALE88 FOODS Corp., a food company owned by Carpio — like having low electric costs despite being a multi-million banana chip company, having zero trade receivables and payables, and having no rank and file employees.

However, a more glaring issue, Trillanes said, is that Cale88 supposedly received P319 million worth of cash remittances from China, while Duterte’s Tapang at Malasakit Foundation got a P150 million donation from the Chinese embassy in the Philippines.

According to Trillanes, this is alarming since Duterte is occupying a crucial post, being a heartbeat away from the presidency.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

INQUIRER has asked both the Chinese embassy and the Office of the Vice President for their comment on the matter, but both have yet to reply as of posting time. /jpv