Trillanes defends Makati building probe

MANILA, Philippines - Amid criticism that the Senate’s investigation into the allegedly overpriced building constructed by the city government of Makati was politically motivated, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV defended the probe, saying it is necessary for the public to find out about the man who could be the country’s next president. 

In an interview over the cable news program Headstart yesterday, Trillanes said the Senate has a responsibility to look into the matter because it involves Vice President Jejomar Binay and the amount involved is even bigger than what was mentioned in the pork barrel scam. 

It was Trillanes who filed the resolution calling for the probe into the allegedly overpriced building, which was constructed at the time when Binay was still the mayor of Makati City. 

The structure, which was branded as a parking building by those who are questioning the project, reportedly cost a total of P2.7 billion to construct while the pork barrel scam “only involved around P700 million for the few senators,” Trillanes said.

Pattern of behavior

He said the investigation is needed because if the allegation is true, “then you’ll have this pattern of behavior transferred from Makati to the (national government), wherein you have right now P2.6 trillion (in the national budget) at his disposal.”

Trillanes claimed that the investigation was not a demolition job against Binay, who has been leading the surveys on voter preferences for the presidential elections in 2016. 

He argued that evidence presented during the hearing last Wednesday showed various irregularities in the construction of the building, as well as similar projects and programs implemented by the city government of Makati.

“This is not a demolition job. The evidence spoke for itself. So, we let the people judge,” Trillanes said.

Trillanes, who has also signified his interest in running for vice president in 2016, claimed that every person who has to deal with the Vice President is afraid of getting on his bad side.

“And they know that cases would be filed against them or they would be harassed. So they know what Vice President Binay is capable of doing. That’s why they would rather suck up to him now and probably later on when he becomes President they will be on his good side, but that’s a very, very fearful scenario,” Trillanes said.  

“It’s going to be a martial law type of environment wherein you cannot say anything that will piss off the sitting President,” he added.

Sen. Nancy Binay, the Vice President’s eldest daughter, urged Trillanes to focus on more important matters such as the proposed 2015 national budget rather than trying to get media mileage from an investigation into the Makati building. 

The younger Binay said a complaint has been filed before the ombudsman regarding the project and so it makes no sense for the Senate to undertake the same investigation.