Group dares Duterte: Show BPI accounts

CEBU, Philippines – A multi-sectoral organization has challenged presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Digong" Duterte to be "man enough" and appear before the Julia Vargas branch of the Bank of the Philippine Islands in Pasig City on Monday to sign a waiver allowing the opening of all his bank accounts.

The Alliances Against Tyranny, Incompetence and Greed (ASTIG), composed mostly of former Duterte supporters, issued the challenge yesterday after the maverick mayor said he would only send his lawyer Salvador Panelo to face Senator Antonio Trillanes.

"We challenge Duterte to heed the call of Trillanes and sign a waiver to open all his bank accounts in front of everybody," said Noel Tabasa, ASTIG lead convenor.

Tabasa said all the 17 accounts allegedly owned by Duterte should be opened for the voters to see.

"Dapat dili lang ang balance ang tan-awon kun dili apil na ang history of transactions," Tabasa added.

Duterte said on Friday that he will open his bank account that allegedly contained the alleged P211 million undeclared wealth. However, he has one condition—that Trillanes sign an affidavit and file a case against him.

Duterte also challenged Trillanes to present himself before the BPI Julia Vargas branch tomorrow to face his lawyer.

"We thought you're brave, Digong but it seems your tail is now between your legs," Tabasa said.

According to Tabasa it is very important to the voters, especially those who are still undecided, for Duterte to show the truth.

Duterte earlier said that the bank account was "inexistent" but later admitted that he only has "less than P200 million" in bank deposits, not P50,000 in one account and P17,000 in another account.

Trillanes, who is running for vice president, said Duterte has accounts in three banks that have accumulated transactions amounting to P2.4 billion. Trillanes added Duterte did not declare in his 2014 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth the P211 million supposedly deposited in a joint account with his daughter Sara in BPI.

ASTIG is composed of Akbayan, Sanlakas, and Piglas Kabataan. The alliance is also active in the coalition against vice presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Tabasa said most of them are former supporters of Duterte who withdrew their support because of the latter's anti-democracy stance.

"Pro-Duterte mi before," Tabasa said.

He said they were alarmed by Duterte's statement that he would abolish Congress before they can impeach him if he wins in the election. He added it is also worrying that Duterte vowed to kill 100,000 suspected criminals without due process.

"Dili lang dangerous kon dili makadaot sa ekonomiya," Tabasa said.

Tabasa also said at least P600 billion in trade investment would be lost Duterte cuts ties with the US and Australia.

Death Squads

Meanwhile, Duterte and others who believe that political power comes from the barrel of a gun are bound to have their own death squads, according to former judge Meinrado Paredes,

Paredes mentioned this while discussing the topic "The Davao Death Squads and Violations of Civil Liberties, Scenario to Come", a forum spearheaded by ASTIG.

"Who are qualified to be executioners?" Paredes asked the audience, mostly young members of various cause-oriented groups, "certainly those who are not afraid to kill, those who have no mercy, those who are ruthless killers they do not come from the rank of lawyers and Law students, who believe in due process and rule of law. For Duterte, to hell with due process. Who will pay the executioners, the people of the Philippines?"

Paredes added that crime cannot be solved by killing criminals.

"Those who kill criminals are also criminals," he said.

Paredes also told Duterte supporters, not to entertain the illusion that the coalition of Duterte and Community Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison is good for the masses.

"Cast away illusion, prepare to struggle," Paredes said.

Rafael Coscolluela, former Governor of Negros Occidental, said that majority of people in the country do not depend on a leader.

"It depends on us. Do not think that one person will solve the problem in the Philippines. It's all of us," said Coscolluela, who discussed the topic "Competencies required of a president, is Duterte qualified?"

Coscolluela, who said he has no "yellow blood" in his veins, said among the five presidential candidates he finds Mar Roxas the most qualified for the post in terms of educational attainment, experience and exposure in governance, and clear vision for the country.

"Mar does not envision to be the problem solver of everyone. But he is an enabler. He is result-driven. We have to choose a leader who is empowering, enabling, God-fearing and a presidentiable," Coscolluela said.

Paredes added that at the end of the day, we will have the kind of government that we deserve.

"The majority is not all the time correct. If Duterte wins in the presidency, then God save the Philippines,' he said.

It was PDP Laban spokesperson Paola Alvarez who said Duterte has two accounts in BPI, one with a deposit of P17,000 and the other with P27,000, not millions as alleged by Trillanes.

Alvarez pointed out that since Trillanes used false information in making the allegation that Duterte did not declare the purported bank deposit in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth, then "he peddled a big, fat lie for which he should apologize to the Filipino people because he has absolutely no credibility."

Duterte also told a rally in Naga City that as the election draws near, it is all black propaganda that is being unleashed against him. He described Trillanes as "a soldier of misfortune." — /BRP (FREEMAN)