MANILA, Philippines — Cause-oriented group Tindig Pilipinas on Saturday evening launched a petition asking President Rodrigo Duterte to sign a waiver on the secrecy of his bank deposits.
The petition called for Duterte’s waiver to end all doubts on his alleged corruption and unexplained wealth.
"We, the Filipino people, call on President Duterte to sign the waiver on the secrecy of bank deposits. We deserve a transparent and accountable leader," the group's petition read.
The petition was launched during a rally dubbed “Pirma o Porma.” It was staged at the University of the Philippines on Saturday.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, staunch critic of Duterte, attended the rally and also called on the president to sign the waiver.
In his speech, Trillanes reiterated that Duterte’s bank accounts would prove that he committed corruption. He claimed millions of pesos entered his accounts several times and the president also bought insurance for his children which earned him investments.
In April 2016, Trillanes also claimed that then Davao City Mayor Duterte failed to declare P211 million in his 2014 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth as required by law.
READ: Trillanes to Duterte: Sign waiver to destroy me
“Kaya ngayon sinasabi niya ay hindi raw totoo - imbento raw yan. Ang satin para magkaalaman, pumirma ng waiver. Kaya, pirma o porma? (He’s been saying that corruption claims were false and invented. For us, to uncover the truth, he should sign the waiver)," Trillanes said as he repeated his call for Duterte to sign a waiver.
Duterte previously countered allegations of his critics and said his life savings would not go beyond P40 million.
Meanwhile, Tindig Pilipinas’ petition cited that last September 27, the Office of the Ombudsman confirmed that it has in its possession the bank transaction records of Duterte and his family. The supposed records were said to be from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, which denied this.
Early October, Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Carandang said they have conducted an investigation into the president’s wealth in relation to a complaint filed even before the 2016 elections.
Carandang said the ombudsman had observed confidentiality in its probe into the alleged bank accounts that Duterte supposedly co-owned with his children.