MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Monday said the Senate is not the proper body to investigate the alleged ill-gotten wealth of President Rodrigo Duterte and his family.
Pimentel, an ally of the chief executive, was quick to say that Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV’s resolution calling for a probe is a "tragic waste of time by the Senate."
The Senate president said that Trillanes should bring an actual case to a proper body if he has evidence.
"Senate is not the body for that. We are part of legislative action," Pimentel said.
He added: "But if this is a part of just making this issue land in the news, then this should not be allowed."
The president of the PDP-Laban party said that Trillanes, a staunch critic of the administration, has previously accused the president’s relatives Paolo Duterte and Manases Carpio of being involved in the smuggling of 6.4 billion worth of shabu.
"Now, it’s the same things against other members of the Duterte family," Pimentel said.
Legislative inquiries differ from impeachment processes against sitting presidents. Congress can charge the highest official of the land with an impeachable offense that can lead to his or her ouster. The House of Representatives initiates the case, which can be followed by a Senate-led trial as seen in the impeachment of former president Joseph Estrada who was accused of plunder.
READ: Trillanes resolution seeks probe into alleged Duterte wealth
Reacting to Pimentel’s rejection, Trillanes maintained his resolution is "valid" and should be referred to the Committee on Banks.
"This would just be part of the oversight functions of the Senate. Senator Pimentel, even as senate president, has no power to disallow its referral. Masyado naman siyang ninenerbyos agad para sa amo niya," he said.
Trillanes added that it was Duterte himself who challenged the Senate to investigate his bank records.
"So ito na ang sagot sa hamon ng amo niya," he said.
Trillanes has filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into potential violations of the Anti-Money Laundering Act the president and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio Monday morning
The opposition senator said that the Dutertes may have "undisclosed 'covered' transactions" — under AMLA, these are cash transactions above P500,000 and transactions in jewelry and precious metals above P1 million — in violation of the law.
Citing the VERA Files report, Trillanes said the "covered" transactions include a P48.17-million placement in 2006 that grew to P55.13 million by 2013; a P40.55-million investment in 2009 that stood at P41.72 million in 2013; about $220,000 (roughly P10 million), from 2006 to 2012; the purchase of P80 million in insurance policies in 2014 and a P16.85-million investment which began in 2014.
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