Roque defends Duterte, daughter: Give me AMLC-authenticated documents

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr. challenged critics and reporters yesterday, Jan. 22, to produce bank statements authenticated by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to support Vera Files’ report alleging that “President Rodrigo R. Duterte and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio did not declare their P100 million in investments.” “The reality is that the law says that bank statements are in fact confidential and you need a report or a request from the Anti-Money Laundering Council to get copies of these statements. When Vera Files asked me for my comment, how could I comment when the documents are not authenticated?,” Mr. Roque said in a press conference. In a statement forwarded to media on the same day, Ms. Carpio said: “I actually participated in the production of this Vera Files story. I replied and gave my comment and I told them that we continue to question the claims made by Trillanes and the truthfulness in the data he presented. We have also been asking him to produce and present the sources of the data, which he failed to do even today. Because otherwise, if everything is just based on claims, it’s just rumor-mongering. And he is hiding under the cloak of parliamentary immunity to prevent us from demanding accountability from him.” She added, “The only time that I am bound to answer is when there is a case filed (in court).” —