Binay not backing out of debate with Trillanes

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday dismissed claims that he will back out of a debate with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

“It is being discussed,” Binay’s spokesman and Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla said in a text message to The STAR when asked whether the debate between Binay and Trillanes would push through.

Trillanes has accused Binay of owning a 350-hectare land in Rosario, Batangas. Binay has refused to attend the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee probe on the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II, saying the senators conducting the investigation have pre-judged him.

Binay has challenged Trillanes to a one-on-one debate. Trillanes said he has accepted the challenge.

But Trillanes said he believes that Binay’s camp may not allow the debate to push through.

“I’m waiting for the time that they will try to wiggle their way out of this. They will try to find a reason why this has to be cancelled,” Trillanes said in an interview with ANC yesterday.

Trillanes said the debate would be a lopsided match in favor of Binay, whom he described as a veteran in Philippine politics and a “master of argumentation and debate.”

But Remulla said it was the other way around, and Trillanes was afraid of being exposed as having done poorly in the seven years that he was a senator.

“Senator Trillanes was elected on the romantic notion that he is for change, reform and hope for the country. In the seven years in the Senate this is the first time he will undergo scrutiny. It’s easy to bark and bite. Can he back up his bravado sans the shouting?” Remulla said.

“The Vice President has always been proactive (rather) than a talker. He has always been soft spoken and never been confrontational. The warrior in Trillanes has the distinct advantage in that respect,” he added.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas said it has already started preparations for the debate.

But another Binay ally, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) interim president Toby Tiangco, is not in favor of the debate between Binay and Trillanes.

“I haven’t spoken to the Vice President yet since he came back from Mindanao. But when I see him I will really try to convince him that it is pointless to debate with a liar. Walang isang salita si Trillanes (Trillanes has no word of honor). He can say one thing and back track easily,” Tiangco said in a text message to The STAR.

Remulla declined to comment on Trillanes’ statement that more witnesses and documents will be presented in the Senate hearing on Thursday purportedly to back the allegations against Binay.

On Sunday, Trillanes accused Binay of having several bank accounts abroad and this information would be revealed in future hearings of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee.

“We will wait,” Remulla said.

‘Binay won’t give up ambition’

Meanwhile, Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian laughed off suggestions by two administration congressmen that Binay should give up his presidential ambition so he can concentrate on his defense against mounting charges of unexplained wealth against him and his family.

Gatchalian, a stalwart of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, was reacting to calls of Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello and Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice that Binay should focus on defending himself.

“How can a presidential frontrunner like Vice President Binay give up on his plan to run in 2016 just because he is being accused of various charges which have not been fully substantiated by his accusers,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

“I have never heard of a candidate quitting when he is on top of all the surveys, with the next aspirant placing a far second. Aspirants who decide to quit are those who lag behind the surveys. Not the frontrunner like Vice President Binay,” the lawmaker added.

Gatchalian noted that while the massive attacks on Binay caused his ratings to decline, the Vice President remained at the top of presidential aspirants based on the latest surveys of Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations.

Being a former human rights lawyer, Binay can also readily defend himself from all the allegations and quitting the presidential race can be misconstrued as an admission of guilt.

“As I have been saying, it will be the Filipino people who will be the ultimate judge on whether Vice President Binay will be the next president of the Republic,” the lawmaker added.