Binay camp challenges Trillanes to reveal sources on bribery claims

Rappler.com

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Binay camp challenges Trillanes to reveal sources on bribery claims
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV refuses to identify the 'reliable sources' who told him about the alleged bribery of two Court of Appeals justices to favor Mayor Binay

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of suspended Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr said on Thursday, August 6, that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV should reveal the identities of his “reliable sources” who told him about the alleged bribery of two Court of Appeals (CA) magistrates.

Citing “reliable sources privy to the matter,” Trillanes had claimed Binay paid off CA justices Jose Reyes Jr and Francisco Acosta of the 6th division to issue a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction that stopped the Ombudsman’s first suspension order against the Makati mayor.

Binay then filed a libel suit against the senator before the Office of the Makati City Prosecutor.

While Trillanes assured his sources’ credibility, he has refused to name them.

Lawyer Rico Quicho, political affairs spokesperson of Vice President Jejomar Binay, criticized Trillanes’ refusal on Thursday.

“‘Yan po ang mahirap kay Senator Trillanes – gumagawa po siya ng sarili niyang alituntunin,” Quicho said in an interview with Radyo 5’s Punto Asintado.Kinakailangan [na] suportahan niya ‘yung kanyang mga paratang.”

(That’s the problem with Senator Trillanes – he makes his own rules. He needs to support his claims.)

According to Quicho, it is important for Trillanes to reveal his sources’ identities as the senator’s claims also affect the names of the justices, their relatives, and even the whole judiciary branch.

Quicho added that Trillanes also cannot just ask the Senate to conduct a separate investigation of justices Reyes and Acosta, as the 3 branches of the government are independent of each other.

Within the judicial branch po, meron pong mekanismo kung papaano imbestigahan ang mga reklamo sa mga mahistrado at mga judge,” said Quicho.

(Within the judicial branch, mechanisms have been laid out on how to investigate complaints against magistrates and justices.)

The preliminary investigation of the libel suit was held at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, August 5, after the Office of the Makati City Prosecutor inhibited from the case and passed it before the DOJ. (READ: Binay camp questions transfer to DOJ of libel suit vs Trillanes)

The CA has also ordered Trillanes to appear before it on Friday, August 14, to explain the bribery allegations he made against two of its magistrates. – Rappler.com

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