Duterte to shut down Congress if threatened with impeachment


MANILA - Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Friday warned that he will close down Congress if he would face impeachment attempts as president.
Vice presidential candidate Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who alleged that Duterte has bank transactions amounting to P2.407 billion, has vowed to impeach the mayor right away if he wins in the May 9 presidential elections.
Speaking to reporters at his campaign rally in Olongapo City, Pampanga, Duterte denied hiding any ill-gotten wealth, reiterating that two of his bank accounts only hold P50,000 and P17,000 each.
He added that he will leave Trillanes with no avenue to unseat him from Malacañang.
"P*****, impeach mo ako dahil sa P17,000? Kalokohan, ipasara ko na lang ang Congress," he said.
Asked what he'd do if Trillanes wins as his vice president, he said: "Paalisin ko na lang siya sa tabi."
"Doon na lang siya sa mga kabarkada niya sa PMA (Philippine Military Acedemy). Doon siya magaling sa mga kudeta," he added, referring to the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny led by Trillanes.
Trillanes on Wednesday alleged that Duterte was keeping P211 million in a joint account with his daughter, Sara, at the BPI branch on Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig City.
Duterte's spokesperson, Peter Laviña, denied the existence of the BPI account.
Journalist Ellen Tordesillas, however, posted on her Facebook account a photo of a deposit slip which proves that a joint account of Duterte and his daughter at BPI exists.
After the proof surfaced on social media, Duterte admitted that the account at the BPI branch on Julia Vargas does exist, but he insisted that it does not contain P211 million.
In a recent development, Trillanes claimed Friday that Duterte's accounts in BPI Julia Vargas and two other banks received P2.407 billion in total deposits, from 2006 to 2015.
Duterte told his supporters not to believe Trillanes, whom he dubbed as a "mercenary".
The PDP-Laban bet also said that he if he truly amassed hidden wealth, then he would not have run for the presidency but could have used this money to enjoy a comfortable retirement.

PERJURY

Duterte also warned that he would take necessary actions against Trillanes if the latter executes an affidavit stating that he has records of that account, and the manner and purpose with which the documents were obtained.
The tough-talking mayor said Trillanes can be charged with perjury if he cannot prove that undeclared wealth was indeed funneled into Duterte's alleged accounts.
He added that the senator's expose is illegal and violates the Bank Secrecy Law.
Trillanes and several presidential candidates earlier urged Duterte tosign a waiver allowing full disclosure of his bank accounts.

NPA TIES, REVOLUTIONARY GOV'T

Duterte also confirmed that he is in talks with Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison to discuss initial plans for inclusive governance if he is elected as president.
Duterte said Congress will determine the parameters of such an agreement, but everyone will be included in the discussions, especially the Armed Forces.
Duterte also clarified an earlier statement that he would establish a revolutionary government, saying he only meant instituting reforms in government agencies, particularly the bureaus of Customs and Internal Revenue.

SORTIE BRAWL

Meanwhile, a slight scuffle also ensued between former Zambales Governor Vic Magsaysay and local security manning the stage of Duterte's Olangapo sortie.
Magsasay was reportedly denied access to the stage where Duterte was delivering his speech.
Piqued, Magsaysay allegedly hit the security men several times.

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