Trillanes to file libel charges vs. Mocha, 2 others over ‘fake news’

Senator Antonio Trilanes IV on Monday said he will file libel cases against Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, journalist Erwin Tulfo, and the person behind a social media site allegedly propagating fake news.

“Within the next few days, fa-file-an ko ng kaso si Erwin Tulfo, Mocha Uson at si Mr. Ben Tesiorna,” Trillanes, a staunch critic of the administration, said in a press briefing.

Tesiorna is supposedly behind the Davao Breaking News Facebook page, one of the sites which published Trillanes' alleged offshore accounts. Trillanes said Tulfo and Uson also shared the alleged accounts on their pages.

“Kakasuhan ko sila ng libel. Hindi na pe-pwede yung fake news. The era of fake news is over. Itong Duterte administration, nanalo kayo sa fake news. Pero ngayon, hindi na pwede ‘yun,” Trillanes said.

“Hahabulin at hahabulin ko kayo every time,” he said.

Based on “basic” research, Trillanes said he found out that not only were the bank accounts “bogus,” but the banks itself.

“Hindi lang non-existent accounts, but non-existent banks. Ganoon ka-glaring ang fabrication na ito,” he said.

“Dito makikita na si [President Rodrigo] Duterte ay napaka-sinungaling na tao at ginamit yung kapangyarihan ng gobyerno para masira yung mga miyembro ng oposisyon,” Trillanes added.

Trillanes showed to the media copies of the 12 waivers he submitted to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) covering his alleged 12 accounts.

He said Duterte should also execute a document waiving his bank secrecy rights if he is not hiding anything. —KBK, GMA News