MANILA, Philippines - Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday called Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and his aide liars for claiming that they helped raised Trillanes' committee funds.
Trillanes said in an ABS-CBN News interview that Enrile and his chief-of-staff Gigi Reyes lied when they claimed that they pushed for the P5 million increase for his committee.
"That's a lie. Yun nga ang pinag-awayan nila. It was Senator (Franklin) Drilon who pushed for the increase. Enrile wanted it brought down to zero," the senator told ABS-CBN News' Headstart on Wednesday.
"They lie as natural as breathing. Nakakatakot 'yon e. If you have a Senate President like that, you should be very afraid," Trillanes added.
Reyes earlier claimed that Enrile had suggested that the Senate leadership raise the funds of Trillanes and other senators, who only received funds between P1 million and P15 million.
"For the 2013 budget, it was Senate President who suggested that we increase those who only have one to P15 million, dahil unfair naman na 'yung iba may P30 million na oversight budget," Reyes said in a separate radio interview.
Trillanes had claimed that a majority of senators want Enrile out of the Senate presidency.
However, Enrile retained his post even after filing a motion that the Senate presidency be declared vacant.