MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte was just joking when he admitted to having committed corruption, Malacañang said Tuesday as it chided Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for taking the statement seriously. During the 140th anniversary of the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc. last June 29, Duterte said he hates corruption but had no pretensions of being clean. Trillanes said the president’s statement confirmed his corruption allegations against Duterte. Trillanes filed a plunder case against Duterte before the Ombudsman a few days before the 2016 presidential elections. Duterte has denied Trillanes’ accusations and even vowed to step down if the senator could prove that he has even just a quarter of the amount.

Source: Philippine Star July 11, 2017 10:48 UTC