Trillanes feels ‘vindicated’ after Ombudsman finds basis in his rap vs. Duterte

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday said he felt "vindicated" following the Ombudsman's decision to act on his complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte and pursue an investigation into the chief executive's alleged billion-peso bank accounts.

"Definitely I feel vindicated. Talagang natutuwa tayo na kinumpirma ng Ombudsman na totoo ang aming mga allegations na bilyun-bilyon ang pumasok sa mga bank accounts ni Duterte," Trillanes said during the Kapihan sa Senado.

"Significant itong kanilang pagkumpirma kasi babasagin nito ng pagkukunwari ni Duterte na siya daw ay galing sa mahirap at sinasabi niya na wala raw siyang ganitong kalaking pera sa bangko at dito natin makikita na talagang pinagloloko niya ang mga kababayaan natin," he added.

Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang said that Trillanes' complaint has sufficient basis for the Office of Ombudsman to start its probe into the alleged multi-billion-peso wealth of Duterte and his family.

He said that he had been authorized by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to act on the complaint, and that he has already requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council for a final validation of the first family's bank transaction records .

Trillanes had accused Duterte of having over P2 billion in his bank accounts as he challenged the President repeatedly to sign bank secrecy waivers.

Duterte had earlier said that he, along with his siblings, earned millions from selling inherited land. He said that when he was a fourth year student, he already had P3 million.

But now he maintains having only P500,000 left in the bank. — MDM/KVD/BM, GMA News