Binay files libel suit vs Trillanes, ex-Makati vice mayor

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay filed Thursday afternoon separate libel complaints against Sen. Antonio Trillanes and former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office.

Binay, in his five-page complaint said Mercado “publicly committed criminal wrongdoings” against him in an article that appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

In the article published last January 22, Binay said Mercado “publicy spewed lies and defamatory statements” against him when he alleged that the vice president had allegedly earned close to P200 million in kickbacks from a deal struck between the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and real estate developer Alphaland Corp. for the development of a one-hectare prime property in Makati City.

“The foregoing libelous statements were published in both the front page headlines of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on 22 January 2015…The subject libelous statements falsely and maliciously impute on me, despite the utter lack of evidence, the commission of various crimes and violations of law, including but not limited to those defined and penalized under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Said statements likewise imputed on me vices and defects, which caused me dishonor, discredit and contempt,” said Binay in his libel complaint against Mercado.

Meanwhile, Binay in his four-page complaint against Trillanes said the senator last August 19 had publicly accused him of “perpetrating a P100 million racket a year in Makati involving ghost senior citizens.” Trillanes’ accusation was published online by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Binay said.

“The foregoing statements are utterly false and baseless,” said Binay in his complaint.

Binay in his complaint, added that Trillanes made the accusation against him in an attempt to derail his plans to seek the presidency in next year’s elections.

“Being the consistent front-runner in the Presidential Elections in May 2016, unscrupulous individuals, including respondent Trillanes, have conspired to politically assassinate me by blatantly and publicly maligning my good name and reputation with lies and defamatory statements such as the above-quoted public statements,” said Binay. 

Binay added that there is also no evidence to support Trillanes’ allegations of “ghost” senior citizens in Makati City who were enrolled in the city’s benefits program.

“Makati senior citizens personally apply and submit documents before they are enrolled.  They go through verification. Benefits are received personally,” he said.