Duterte vows to resign if he has ₱40 million in the bank

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 3) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday set another condition for his resignation.

In a tirade against television network ABS-CBN and the national daily, Philippine Daily Inquirer on Friday, the President said he would quit if it is proven that he had over P40 million in his bank accounts.

"I am challenging ABS-CBN. Magpunta kami sa Central Bank. I will tell the governor to open my account. Kapag sumobra ng ₱40 million, I will step down," Duterte said In a speech in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

[Translation: I am challenging ABS-CBN. Let's go to the Central Bank. I will tell the governor to open my account. If there's more than ₱40 million, I will step down.]

If the media company failed to prove that he had that much money in bank deposits, Duterte said that he would slap them all.

"Pag 'di umabot, maglinya kayo. Sampalin ko kayo isa-isa," Duterte dared.

[Translation: If it doesn't reach that amount, fall in line. I will slap you one by one.]

Duterte issued the challenge after his office ordered the dismisssal of Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang who investigated claims that President Rodrigo Duterte had accumulated ill-gotten wealth.

Carandang, in 2017, had led the probe based on allegations by Senator Antonio Trillanes. He said that he had obtained Duterte's bank records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) which showed the President was worth more than ₱1 billion.

The AMLC, which handles issues on bank secrecy, denied this.  The AMLC is under the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

On the newspaper Inquirer, Duterte again took shots against the Prieto family who owns the publication, and said that they are liable for plunder for non-payment of condoned loans to the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Duterte had previously said that he would  step down if people could prove the existence of the Christian God.

READ: Duterte: If you can prove your God exists, I will resign