Palace says to Vera Files : Prove by evidence that Duterte receives gifts

Malacanang would not allow Vera Files to besmirch the reputation of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

It challenged Vere Files to prove by presenting evidence that the Chief Executive had received gifts in multi-million pesos via the office of the President.

Vera Files recently reported that seven deposits totaling more than P193 million were credited to the joint bank account of Duterte and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio during the President's 69th birthday in 2014.

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Said report was based from the bank records submitted to the Senate by former senator and fierce Duterte critic Antonio Trillanes IV. The documents also served as the basis of a plunder case filed by Trillanes against Duterte, the report written by journalist Ellen Tordesillas said.

Presidential Spokesman Atty. Salvador Panelo slams Vera Files and  demands from it to present evidence to back up its claims.

"Is that true? Does she have any evidence to that effect? Many have claimed that the President has hundreds of millions but it's not true," Panelo said in a press briefing. 

"One who alleges must prove. If you cannot prove, then shut up because you are just maligning people," he added. 

Panelo claimed all gifts given to Duterte go to the Office of the President. 

"In other words, it will be the government of the Philippines that will receive the gift; not him, not personal," the presidential spokesman said. 

Panelo cited an instance when someone was giving the President a painting. The giver of the gift requested that he be allowed to meet the President. 
 
"During that presentation, he (Duterte) said, 'I cannot accept that. You have to donate that to the government of the Philippines,'" Panelo said.

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Report from PhilStar