Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV accused the Duterte family, including Vice President Sara Duterte, of receiving millions of pesos from an alleged drug lord during a House Committee on Justice hearing on impeachment complaints.
During his appearance before the panel, Trillanes said documents they gathered showed that about P181 million was allegedly given to members of the Duterte family by a supposed drug lord identified as Sammy Uy.
He told lawmakers that three cashier’s checks and personal checks worth P7.4 million each were reportedly deposited into the bank account of Vice President Duterte in 2011 and 2012. The funds allegedly came from Uy.
Trillanes also claimed that Uy was a known political contributor to former President Rodrigo Duterte. He further alleged that Uy was associated with Michael Yang, who has been linked to a warehouse of illegal drugs seized in Pampanga, as well as controversies involving Pharmally and Philippine offshore gaming operators.
The former senator argued that alleged closeness between Vice President Duterte’s family and an alleged drug lord could violate provisions of the Constitution. He said such allegations raise questions about her moral capacity to serve as vice president and could be considered an impeachable offense.
Trillanes also alleged that Vice President Duterte was involved in corruption from the early stage of her entry into government service. He further claimed that she allegedly possessed hidden wealth that was not declared in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.
He also recounted meeting a person identified as “Joseph De Mesa” in 2016, who allegedly provided information about bank accounts belonging to former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Duterte that supposedly indicated undeclared wealth.
