Despite photos together, Duterte denies knowing Snooky Cruz

Paterno R. Esmaquel II

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Despite photos together, Duterte denies knowing Snooky Cruz
'Ang kilala kong Snooky, 'yung artista at saka 'yung sa comics, sa totoo lang,' says President Rodrigo Duterte

MANILA, Philippines – Despite their photos together, President Rodrigo Duterte denied knowing Daniel “Snooky” Cruz, the alleged source of fake bank documents linked to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

“Ang kilala kong Snooky, ‘yung artista at saka ‘yung sa comics, sa totoo lang (The only Snooky I know is the artist and also the one in the comics, to tell you the truth),” Duterte said in an impromptu press conference on Wednesday, October 4.

Duterte was apparently referring to Filipino actress Snooky Serna and the comic book character Snoopy.

The President also denied Trillanes’ claim that Cruz sold the bank details to Malacañang on August 31 for P10 million ($195,904).

“I will not spend any single centavo for him. He is not worth even one peso to me,” Duterte said. 

The President issued these denials even after Trillanes, in a Senate privilege speech on Tuesday, October 3, presented at least two photos of Cruz with Duterte.

Through a PowerPoint presentation on Tuesday, Trillanes displayed these photos as screenshots from Cruz’s supposed social media accounts.

Photo as early as 2015

One of these photos, posted on Facebook on March 19, 2015, said it was a “blast from the past” with his “all-time favorite mayor” and possibly “future favorite President.”

PHOTO FROM 2015. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV presents this photo of long-time Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with Daniel 'Snooky' Cruz, from a supposed screenshot of Cruz's Facebook account. Photo from Trillanes' PowerPoint presentation

Another photo, posted on August 31, showed Duterte and Cruz shaking hands in Malacañang. “The last time I saw the President was when he was still the mayor of Davao City hanging around at our favorite hangout place,” read the caption by user @snooky013.

PHOTO IN PALACE. This photo, also presented by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in a Senate privilege speech, shows President Rodrigo Duterte and Daniel 'Snooky' Cruz shaking hands in Malacañang. Photo from Trillanes' PowerPoint presentation

The President issued his denial after Trillanes on Tuesday said Cruz is the source of the senator’s “fake” offshore accounts.

Trillanes described Cruz as a former “federal agent” who pretends to be “well-connected” to the US embassy.

Duterte earlier said an anonymous country was providing him information about Trillanes’ supposed accounts. 

Hitting back at Trillanes during Wednesday’s press conference, Duterte also claimed that a certain “Abad” from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is Trillanes’ mistress.

Duterte said Abad provided Trillanes with documents to pin him down for allegedly amassing hidden wealth. 

The most prominent Abad from AMLC was Julia Bacay-Abad, its former executive director, who resigned from her post in January, months before the Ombudsman began investigating the Duterte family’s wealth. 

In a statement, Trillanes denied Duterte’s claim and reiterated that the President should explain the “billions of pesos” in his bank accounts. – Rappler.com

P51.04 = $1

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Paterno R. Esmaquel II

Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He finished MA Journalism in Ateneo and MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email pat.esmaquel@rappler.com