Continued attack vs Duterte seen

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Vice presidential candidate and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday expressed belief that the demolition job against his runningmate and presidential frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte would continue in the run-up to the May 9 election.

Cayetano issued the statement amid issues that Duterte has P211 million in bank deposits, which he failed to declare in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth in 2014.

Duterte had presented documents showing his accounts at a Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) branch on Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig City.

The documents showed Duterte has a few thousand pesos in his account and not P211 million as claimed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes.

“Are the bank accounts of Mayor Duterte true? In campaign sorties in Daet, Camarines Norte and Naga City, Camarines Sur yesterday, Mayor Duterte showed the contents of his bank accounts, which were less than P21,000,” Cayetano said during a press briefing in Barangay Tagas, Daraga Albay.

He said the demolition job against Duterte was due to his high ratings and consistent lead in poll surveys.

Cayetano said there are people with vested interests who feel threatened by the mayor’s political platform.

“There are rich businessmen – both legitimate and illegitimate – whose operation will be affected,” he said.  

“What do I mean by illegitimate – the drug lords. If you are a drug lord are you not threatened if Duterte will become president?”

Cayetano said the issue on Duterte’s bank accounts is connected with the problem on corruption and bank secrecy.

He said Duterte continues to lead in the poll surveys despite the issues hurled against him.