Trillanes says Duterte’s drug war ‘fake,' used to protect Michael Yang, drug personalities 

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday believes that the past administration’s drug war was only used to protect then presidential adviser Michael Yang and other alleged drug personalities. 

“We concluded na peke talaga ito. Ginagawa niya ang war on drugs para proteksyunan niya yung sindikato niya.... Kaya po nung sa Davao pa lang, pinapatay nila yung kompetensya. Tapos sila na ang Presidente, ginawa nilang national death squad,” the former senator told the House of Representatives Quad Committee. 

(We concluded that it was fake. The war on drugs was also implemented to protect the syndicates. Even when they were still in Davao, they killed their competitors. When he was already a President, they formed a national death squad.)  

Trillanes added that former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs was a cover up to kill competitors in the illegal drug trade by adding them in the latter's drug matrix. 

“Tapos yung drug list na sinasabi ni Duterte, mayroong mga legitimate na personalities doon galing sa mga iba’t-ibang ahensya,” he added. “Pero kapag may kailangan silang isingit na mga kalaban nila sa drug business, sinisingit po nila doon, kaya may mga tinutumba na mga involved din sa illegal drugs kasi kompetensya nila yun sa distribution.” 

(In Duterte’s drug list, there were legitimate personalities coming from various agencies. But they insert the names of their competitors in the drug business. That explains why some were killed because they were considered competition in the distribution.) 

But Duterte insisted earlier in the day that Yang, who was his former economic adviser, was not involved in illegal drug trade. 

This was his response after former Police Colonel Eduardo Acierto linked Yang to illegal narcotics based on a confidential report. 

Further, Trillanes presented before the House QuadComm bank transactions of at least P2.4 billion under the names of Duterte’s family members. 

“Ito yung mga iba’t-ibang pumasok na mga kaperahan na accounts ni Duterte….So ang total po ng credits na pumasok ay P2.4 billion,” he said. 

(These are the amounts that were deposited to the accounts of Duterte…So the total credits were P2.4 billion.) 

‘I will hang myself’ 

But Duterte seemed to be irritated with Trillanes’ allegations, saying that he would hang himself if the bank transactions were proven true. 

“I’m willing to execute an affidavit to summon the banks pursuant to my waiver kung may totoo lang maski-isa, I will hang myself in front of you. I will summon, I will sign a waiver, all banks, maski World Bank. Kung may isang totoo lang, I will resign and I will ask my daughter to resign and everybody in the family, and I will hang myself,” said Duterte.

(I’m willing to execute an affidavit to summon the banks pursuant to my waiver if there at least a truth in that, I will hang myself in front of you. I will summon, I will sign a waiver, all banks, even the World Bank. If there is at least one truth in his allegations, I will resign and I will ask my daughter to resign, and everybody in the family, and I will hang myself.) 

The former senator said that he acquired the said bank documents during the campaign season of the 2016 presidential polls. He also said that Duterte admitted then to the said bank deposits. 

“Nung campaign po nung 2016, may nagabot po sa aming opisina na ang pangalan niya ay Joseph De Mesa. Mayroon siyang mga dokumento na pwede namin tignan [...] Chineck namin kung totoo yun, may mga nag-deposito po na doon sa iba’t-ibang accounts ni Duterte, totoo nga, legitimate po,” said Trillanes. 

(During the campaign in 2016, a certain Joseph De Mesa provided us with the documents. When we checked, the deposits made to the various accounts of Duterte are actually legitimate.) 

“Then nung kampanya, nilabas ko po ito at inamin po mismo ni Duterte. Una, dine-deny ng kanyang spokesman, pero eventually, nung na-corner na siya, inamin niya. Hinamon niya rin kami na magbibigay siya ng waiver.” 

(During the campaign, I released these and Duterte admitted to these documents. At first, his spokesman was denying these bank transactions, but eventually he admitted to these. He also challenged us that he will provide a waiver.) 

The House QuadComm later asked Duterte if he can sign a waiver regarding the alleged bank transactions, but the latter made a condition to slap Trillanes: “Anong kapalit? Sampalin ko siya sa publiko?! Ngayon na, sampalin ko sa publiko.” 

(At what cost? Can I slap him in public?! I will sign it now, so I can slap him.) 

The former president also grabbed the microphone and threatened to hit Trillanes with it. 

Following the heated exchange, the panel decided to temporarily suspend the hearing for a few minutes.

‘Drug money’ 

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel asked Trillanes on what his basis was for the “drug money” found in the bank documents named under Duterte’s family that he presented earlier. The former senator explained that it was based on the claims made by Davao Death Squad member Arturo Lascañas. 

“Ang basehan natin ay yung sinabi ni Arturo Lascañas na mga drug lords na ka-partner at pino-proteksyunan ni Duterte ay sina Michael Yang,” said Trillanes. 

(Our basis was the statement of Arturo Lascañas on the drug lords who were partners and under the protection of Duterte such as the likes of Michael Yang.) 

“Tinignan namin na may mga pumasok na mga manager’s check, na in-encash nila, silang family, ay galing kay Mr. Sammy Uy…Lumalabas na nagdi-dibidendo ng roughly P40 million to P50 million every six months. I’d be very interested kung anong negosyo ang nagyi-yield ng ganito,” he added.

(We checked that there were manager’s checks from Mr. Sammy Uy that were being deposited and were being encashed by their family….It shows that they receive dividends of roughly P40 million to P50 million every six months. I’d be very interested to know what kind of business yields such a huge amount.) 

But as the exchange between Trillanes and Manuel was ongoing, Duterte was trying to speak up on the allegations. 

“Bawal ‘yan to reveal a bank account even if piso lang ‘yan or P1 billion. Alam mo ba ‘yan? [...] Hindi mo ba alam na I could charge you for that alone?!” Duterte angrily addressed Manuel. 

(You cannot reveal a bank account even if it only has a peso or P1 billion. Do you know that? [..] Do you know that I could charge you for that alone?)

As Duterte seemed to be agitated already, the House QuadComm had to suspend the hearing a little bit earlier than usual. 

“Malalim na nga yung gabi and I think pagod na rin ang ating resource person. Siguro pagkatapos ng pagtatanong ni Congressman Manuel, itutuloy natin ang hearing sa next scheduled hearing natin which is November 21st,” said House QuadComm chairperson Rep. Ace Barbers. 

(It’s already late and I think our resource person is already tired. I think after Congressman Manuel finishes all his questions, we can continue the hearing on November 21st.) 

But Duterte protested to either continue the hearing past midnight or on Thursday. 

Despite the qualms by the former president, the panel moved to suspend the hearing.—LDF/RF, GMA Integrated News