MANILA — The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday accused former senator Antonio Trillanes IV of reviving what it described as “exhausted lies” against the Duterte family, including allegations involving extrajudicial killings, illegal drugs, unexplained wealth, corruption and links to China.

In a statement issued by spokesperson Salvador Paolo A. Panelo Jr., Duterte’s camp questioned Trillanes’ decision to hold a press conference instead of facing the Vice President’s defense team during proceedings related to the impeachment case.

“Since 2016, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has been peddling the same exhausted lies regarding Extrajudicial Killings (EJKs), fabricated drug links, imaginary unexplained wealth, baseless corruption allegations, and fictional China connections against the Duterte family,” the statement said.

The Vice President’s camp also cited the cases of Peter Joemel Advincula, also known as “Bikoy,” former lawyer Jude Sabio and Arturo Lascañas, claiming their accounts had undermined Trillanes’ allegations.

The statement alleged that Advincula had admitted being used in a destabilization plot, while Sabio had withdrawn his communication with the International Criminal Court and admitted he was used for political propaganda. It also questioned Lascañas’ credibility.

The camp further criticized Trillanes’ appearance before the House Justice Committee, claiming that he was not subjected to probing or adversarial questioning and that he later cited Anti-Money Laundering Authority records as confirmation of his allegations.

It said Trillanes’ claims were put to a different test when he was expected to face cross-examination by Duterte’s defense team.

“Yet, the moment he was faced with the very first opportunity to test his wild claims against actual facts, verified records, and law through cross-examination by the Vice President’s defense team, Trillanes folded,” the statement said.

“Instead of defending his claims under oath, he chose the comfort of a safe and scripted press conference where his lies could once again go unchallenged.”

The Vice President’s camp said Duterte would “gladly sue” Trillanes but claimed that individuals who allegedly spread malicious claims against her and her family were being protected by the administration.

The statement cited Ramil Madriaga and Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. as examples.

Duterte’s camp also accused the administration of pursuing what it called a “well-funded plot” to politically destroy the Vice President, while saying the effort would ultimately fail because the public “knows the truth.”

The camp said Duterte would instead allow the evidence presented before the Senate Impeachment Court to speak for itself.

“Confident that the law, the facts, and the evidence are squarely on her side, the Vice President will let the evidence before the Senate Impeachment Court speak for itself,” the statement said.

“Her defense team stands ready to refute whatever Trillanes accusation the prosecution believes is even credible enough for the Court’s serious consideration.”