MALACAÑANG defended Sunday President Rodrigo Duterte for his apparent flip-flopping on his economic status in life.
Duterte had been saying that he came from a poor family. But on Thursday night, when he answered in a recorded message the allegation of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that he has some P2.4 billion of ill-gotten wealth, the President said they were not poor, citing that his father, who was then a governor, left with them some inheritance.
"Unang-una hindi flip-flop iyan. It’s just an explanation of how the family progress as a family ‘no," said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
He said that when Duterte, who was then a young man, arrived in Davao, his family did not have any luxuries.
"Wala silang lavish lifestyle, hindi sila mayaman. Because the parents, unang-una, immigrant ‘yan eh ano, talagang hindi pa sila nakapag-impok," he said.
But he said Duterte's parents had salaries and they were able to save.
"When the father died, meron siyang iniwang inheritance," Abella explained.
"So it’s not a question of flip-flopping," he added.
Trillanes has accused Duterte of having P2.4 billion undeclared funds in his bank account.
But Duterte said if the Senator could prove his claim, he would resign. (SDR/SunStar Philippines)
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