MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte launched a scathing counterattack on Friday, April 24, 2026, dismissing recent allegations of billion-peso bank transactions as “hallucinated lies” and “politically motivated persecution.” In a pre-recorded video statement, the Vice President took aim at former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, the Commission on Audit (COA), and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
The statement comes in response to Trillanes’ recent testimony before the House Quad Committee, where he presented documents allegedly showing drug-related payoffs deposited into accounts belonging to the Duterte family.
Duterte characterized the unfolding investigations as a coordinated effort to dismantle her political standing ahead of the next election cycle.
- On Trillanes: The Vice President labeled the former senator a “perennial fabricator” and a “professional heckler” who has spent a decade recycling the same unproven bank documents.
- On the AMLC: She questioned the integrity of the AMLC, suggesting that the “leak” of sensitive financial data—whether real or forged—was timed to coincide with the ongoing impeachment proceedings against her.
- On COA: Duterte criticized the recent audit reports flagging the OVP’s confidential funds, calling the findings “selective” and “unfairly framed” to suggest irregularities where there were none.
The Vice President maintained that neither she nor her husband, Manases Carpio, have ever been involved in the illegal drug trade or received money from criminal syndicates.
“For years, our enemies have tried to link us to illegal activities without a single shred of credible evidence that would hold up in a real court of law. They are now using the halls of Congress to broadcast their fantasies as if they were facts.”
Duterte also addressed the controversy surrounding her requested 22-day travel authority, which the Palace recently scrutinized.
- Security Risks: She reiterated that the public disclosure of her itinerary was a breach of security and a “deliberate attempt” to expose her and her family to potential harm abroad.
- Right to Leave: She asserted her right to take a personal vacation, noting that she has no legal impediments or hold departure orders against her.
- The “Uncertainty” Factor: The Vice President clarified that she would not be departing on the original April 23 date due to the “hostile and uncertain” administrative environment created by the Office of the President.
The rhetoric marks a new low in the relationship between the country’s two highest offices. As the House Quad Committee continues to subpoena bank officials and the House Committee on Justice deliberates on the impeachment complaints, the Vice President has signaled that she will not be cooperating with what she calls “sham proceedings.”
Despite the mounting allegations, the Vice President remains a highly popular figure in Mindanao and among loyalists of the former president. Her supporters have echoed her claims of “political harassment,” framing the investigations as an attempt by the current administration to neutralize the strongest opposition candidate for the 2028 presidency.