PALACE SHRUGS OFF ACCUSATION

(UPDATED) MANILA - Senator Antonio Trillanes on Thursday revived allegations that President Rodrigo Duterte had undeclared funds in his bank accounts, an accusation that Malacanang said was not worth the president's time to answer.

"Kung corrupt ka nung mayor ka, e ngayong presidente, lalo na. Hindi ba? Kaya nga nakita ninyo wala namang ginawa laban sa corruption," Trillanes told a press conference in Senate.

Trillanes claimed Duterte's alleged "corruption" as a local executive must have been existing when he assumed the country's top post.

"Kung naniniwala ka hindi corrupt si President Duterte nung mayor siya, dapat di siya corrupt ngayon, dapat may ginagawa siya ngayon laban sa korupsyon. Pero nga, iba’t iba, nakikita ninyo yung mga lumalabas na mga anomalya, at mamaya, tingnan niyo na lang yung ilalabas natin doon," he added, pertaining to the Senate inquiry on the bribery-extortion scandal in the Bureau of Immigration.

But Malacanang said Duterte had no time to respond to Trillanes's claims, as the chief executive is focused on nation-building.

"The good senator should devote his time to other issues...this is part of the political landscape where people can make noise," Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella told ANC Thursday.

"The president is more focused on nation-building," he added.

During the press conference, Trillanes dared Duterte anew to reveal his bank transaction history and belie his claims.

Trillanes had alleged in April 2016 that then-presidential race frontrunner Duterte had bank transactions amounting to P2.407 billion.

The senator presented Thursday documents claiming that bank accounts of Duterte and his three children, and some under the name of the president's partner, Cielito Avancena, have about P2-billion from 2006-2015.

Trillanes said Duterte should come forward and prove him wrong. If his allegations are proven wrong, Trillanes said he will resign from his senatorial post.

"He could spare everyone kasi sabi niya diretso siya magsalita, matapang siya sa mga issue. Ilabas mo, ilabas mo yung tapang mo dito. Ipakita mo na mali ako, na hindi lang ako nag-aakusa," he said.

"Alam mo, yung mga diehard supporters niya, talagang paniwalang paniwala. Alang-alang na lang sa kanila, ipakita mo na malinis ka," he added.

“Pagka nailabas 'yung transaction history niya at ako ay mali, ako ay magre-resign sa Senado,” the senator added.