MANILA, Philippines — Atty. Paolo Panelo, spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte, on Saturday, October 3, dismissed allegations raised by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as “tired narratives,” accusing him of recycling long-standing claims against the Duterte family following his removal from the prosecution’s witness list in the ongoing Senate impeachment trial.
In a statement, Panelo stated that Trillanes has been promoting identical accusations since 2016 concerning extrajudicial killings, illicit drugs, unexplained wealth, corruption, and alleged Chinese ties.
“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 recalled past controversial figures who previously leveled accusations against the Duterte family, pointing to Peter Joemel Advincula, alias “Bikoy,” who in 2019 linked Trillanes and the Liberal Party to the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos before retracting his statements.
He also cited the late Atty. Jude Sabio, who in 2020 withdrew an International Criminal Court (ICC) communication regarding the anti-drug campaign, describing it as political propaganda tied to opposition figures, including Trillanes and Rep. Leila de Lima.
While Trillanes was removed from the House prosecution panel’s witness list at his own request to relieve pressure on the team, he later held a independent press briefing detailing allegations regarding the Duterte family’s finances.
Among his claims were assertions that over ₱319 million from Chinese corporate and government entities flowed into a firm tied to the Vice President’s husband, Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio, alongside an alleged ₱150 million transfer from the Chinese Embassy to an associated foundation.
Panelo questioned Trillanes’ decision to present these allegations outside the impeachment court rather than undergoing cross-examination by the Vice President’s defense counsel.
“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,” Panelo said.
“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,” he added.
Additionally, Panelo accused the current administration of shielding individuals making claims against the Vice President, specifically citing Ramil Madriaga and Rodulfo Gracioso Jr., the latter being the subject of an inquiry by the National Bureau of Investigation.
“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.
Panelo asserted that the Vice President will refrain from engaging Trillanes outside official proceedings and will let the evidence presented in the trial speak for itself.
“The Vice President thanks the Filipino people for seeing through Trillanes’ latest media stunt for the absolute garbage that it is, and as part of this government’s increasingly diabolical, well-funded plot to politically destroy her, one that will ultimately fail because the public knows the truth,” Panelo stated.
“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,” he added.
“Her defense team stands ready to refute whatever Trillanes accusation the prosecution believes is even credible enough for the Court’s serious consideration,” Panelo concluded.
The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte continue in the Senate without Trillanes scheduled to take the witness stand.