Binay dares Trillanes to debate inside military camp

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV have both told the media they are accepting the challenge to face each other in a one-on-one debate to settle, once and for all, if the senator is making up allegations of corruption against the Vice President.

But will it really happen? The Vice President is now saying he will face the rebel-soldier-turned-senator inside a military camp, insinuating that Trillanes does not necessarily enjoy a good reputation among fellow soldiers.

“Kahit na saan pa. Alam mo ‘yung si Mr Trillanes, talagang ugali ho ‘yun e, ha? Ako naman ang sasabihin ko sa kanya, eh kung gusto naman n’ya sa loob ng kampo,” Binay told local radio DXCA in Pagadian City on Thursday, October 23.

(I can debate with him anywhere. You know, that is the style of Mr Trillanes. What I will tell him is: If he wants, we can do it inside a camp.)

“You find your way talking to people in uniform and you will know who Mr Trillanes is,” Binay said.

Trillanes is a former Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade. He was among those who led the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny that protested corruption in government, particularly the military. He was jailed but continued to get media attention and would become one of former President Gloria Arroyo’s most vocal critics. This was his path to the Senate. (READ: Antonio ‘Sonny’ Trillanes IV: ‘I’m no coward’)

Trillanes is now after the Vice President and is leading the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee probe into the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall II Parking buidling, the 350-hectare farm the Binay allegedly own through dummies, and even supposedly overpriced cakes for Makati’s senior citizens. 

Binay, a former mayor of Makati City, has refused to attend the hearings, saying they have been “pre-judged.”

It was Binay’s camp that first challenged Trillanes to the one-on-one debate in the wake of the release of a Social Weather Stations survey showing 79% of Filipinos want him to attend the Senate hearings.

Trillanes was quick to accept the challenge.

The Binays sought to stop the Senate probe by questioning the jurisdiction of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, but their petition was dismissed by the senators investigating them.

The Vice President protested that the probe is not “in aid of legislation” but a demolition job to ruin his chances in the 2016 presidential elections.

In the radio interview, Binay appealed to the listeners not to believe the allegations hurled against him.

“Sa mga bayan, sa mga lungsod, salamat nga pala do’n sa inyong suporta ho sa akin. It started in 2010. You continued to support us with Senator Nancy Binay. Now I appeal to you, huwag ho kayong maniniwala sa paninira,” Binay said.

(To all the towns and cities, thank you for supporting me. It started in 2010. You continued to support us with Senator Nancy Binay. Now I appeal to you: do not believe the allegations against me.) – Rappler.com