MANILA — The allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte of receiving millions worth of funding from the Chinese government should be investigated to see whether there is sufficient evidence, Malacañang said Monday, as it called on the involved parties to back up their claims and denials.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the National Bureau of Investigation, the National Security Council and the Anti-Money Laundering Council may launch an inquiry into the matter as part of their mandate.
“Hindi maaaring sabihin wala lang, hindi totoo iyan, kasinungalingan iyan at gawa-gawa na naman ng administrasyong ito. Idi-deny po ba nila na talagang walang 150 million na dinoneyt (donate) ang Bansang Tsina sa Tapang at Malasakit Alliance. So kung wala talagang ebidensya, mas maganda maipakita kung ano ang records nila,” Castro said in a briefing Monday, October 5.
“At sa parte naman ni dating Senator Trillanes, mas maganda ipakita rin ang dokumento na nagpapakita talagang nagbigay ang Bansang Tsina ng 150 million pesos sa political alliance na ito na ang presidente pa rito ay ang ngayong Bise Presidente or rather board of trustees ay kasama si Bise Presidente at si Mayor Lani Cayetano,” she added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is also aware of the accusations, according to Castro.
“So maganda maimbestigahan po ito, hindi para sirain kung sinuman, kung ‘di para malaman natin kung anong katotohanan dito at mayroon ba nanghihimasok na ibang bansa sa ating politika,” Castro stated. The Chinese Embassy on Monday claimed that some Filipino politicians have “fabricated and spread a false narrative” about China’s alleged funding for an unnamed local political faction in the wake of Trillanes’ claim against the vice president.
“Sa Pangulo po at sa administrasyon na ito, kung ano lang naman po iyong katotohanan. Kung hindi naman sila nag-donate ang 150 million para sa political career ni dating Pangulong Duterte at para sa pamumulitika, wala naman po magiging problema doon,” Castro said in response.