Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV affirmed his commitment to challenging the Duterte family, stating his intent to continue speaking out to enlighten “open-minded” Filipinos following a significant development in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
During an ambush interview on Wednesday, Trillanes addressed critics and supporters of the Dutertes who have attempted to discredit his testimonies regarding alleged multi-billion peso bank deposits linked to the Vice President.
“Nakita nyo naman kinumpirma lahat nung AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) ‘di ba? Hindi ko naman ginawa yan eh. Bakit ko iimbentuhin yan,” Trillanes remarked.
AMLC Confirms Bank Records
The credibility of the former lawmaker’s allegations saw a boost during a recent impeachment hearing.
Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima performed a random verification process, selecting specific bank transactions cited in Trillanes’ affidavit.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) confirmed that all 18 randomly selected transactions existed within their official records.
Trillanes was summoned to the hearing specifically to testify on his allegations that the Vice President received proceeds derived from the illegal drug trade.
On “Cult-like” Support
Trillanes dismissed the staunch defense from hardcore Duterte supporters, likening their unwavering loyalty to that of a cult.
He suggested that for a certain segment of the population, no amount of evidence would change their perspective.
“Sila, kung kulto sila, problema na nila yun. Alam mo, may mga kulto si Duterte na kahit bumaril si Duterte sa gitna ng EDSA ay sasambahin pa rin nila eh. Hindi ko na problema yun, problema nila yun,” he stated.
Despite the polarization, the former senator emphasized that his target audience remains the Filipinos who are still willing to evaluate facts objectively.
“Yung mga taong bukas pa ang pag-iisip, yung mga Pilipinong ganun, ‘yun ‘yung mga gusto nating mamulat. Kasi ‘yun, may pag-asa pa yun. Yung mga kulto na nag paniniwala kayo kay Duterte, wala na akong magagawa doon,” Trillanes added.
The Vice President has yet to issue a new statement following the AMLC’s confirmation of the transaction records presented during the hearing.