Duterte dares: Shoot me if I have more than P40M

MARAWI CITY, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Speaking before military officers in Marawi City, President Rodrigo Duterte responded to allegations he has billions of pesos in hidden deposits.

Duterte said he will produce the account in question and show that it does not exceed P40 million, contrary to claims made by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

“You can shoot me. You can even overthrow me if you want pagka sumobra yan (if it exceeds P40 million),” Duterte dared. 

He made his 6th visit to Marawi City on Monday, October 2, since the war erupted in May, to inaugurate a temporary relocation site for residents displaced by war.

“It could not be more than P40 million. It is a lifetime saving. Seventy-two ako (I’m 72). I started to work when I was 27. Naging prosecutor ako. Pati na ‘yung minana kong mga lupa,” said Duterte. (I became a prosecutor. Add the properties I inherited.)

Duterte said he put his lifetime savings in a time deposit. He said the deposits were regularly renewed, which explains why there are so many transactions. He added the amounts shouldn’t be added.

Duterte reiterated he will not obey the Ombudsman. He called for her resignation and threatened to prove she is corrupt.

The Ombudsman however said, “this Office shall not be intimidated.” Morales also declared, “If the President has nothing to hide, he has nothing to fear.”

Duterte said the evidence against him was illegally obtained from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) by a woman who has an affair with a colonel.

“Ninakaw ng babae na kabit ng colonel,” he said. (It was stolen by a woman who is a paramour of a colonel.)

Later in his speech, Duterte claimed it was an employee of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas who stole his bank details and gave them to a certain “Carandang.” He was apparently referring to Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang but was vague about it and provided no details.

Duterte said the evidence against him cannot be used in court. He said his bank details should not have been taken without a case against him pending in court.

Duterte said his bank details should not have been taken without a pending case against him.

He returned to Marawi as the military missed its self-imposed deadline to end the war last September. –  Rappler.com