The debate that almost was but will no longer be
We always took the position that Vice President Jejomar C. Binay would have nothing to gain and everything to lose in debating with a very personable upstart, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. The sympathy of the audience will always be with the apparent underdog, the junior Senator, and former rebel leader who led a siege against the government forces right in the heart of the business district of Makati. Jojo Binay would look like an ageing Mohammad Ali, trying to catch his breath, in a twelve-rounder bout with a much younger boxer who is hungry for a place in the boxing world, Trillanes would hit him with all the jabs from all directions, and Binay might be knocked out without knowing what hit him.
We join Senator Nancy Binay and Congressman Toby Tiangco in applauding Binay's decision not to give Trillanes those moments of glory of mauling the Vice President via national television. There are many other fora to reach out to the people. For instance, if Binay really has nothing to hide, let him buy a one page ad in all the major spread sheets and all the tabloids, wherein he should present in details the truth behind the so-called Binay hacienda in Batangas, and an itemized accounting of the so-called overpriced Makati edifice. The facts should speak for themselves.
If Binay has nothing to hide, let him present the affidavits of all the vendees in the so-called deeds of sale that he allegedly executed involving the properties in question. As a lawyer, he should be able to present a paper trail diagram of how the properties were acquired by him and how he supposedly unloaded them, what were the considerations of all the transactions. And He should be able to present the documentary evidence to support his allegations and defenses. The people can decide on who is telling the truth and who is merely politicking.
To debate with Trillanes on issues that are now pending in court would expose Binay to a direct contempt charge by the Sandiganbayan, where the case is now pending. He could be arrested and jailed and could even be disbarred for violating the Canons of Legal Ethics. As to Trillanes, he is not a lawyer and he can well hide under the cloak of not knowing the rules of court. Although ignorance of the law excuses no one, that rule can only be invoked in court. The people will be more lenient and forgiving to a young soldier like Trillanes and will tend to be more harsh and stringent on Binay, an old and famous human rights lawyer.
And so, as I told you so, I never thought for a moment that such a debate would ever come to pass. Except, of course, if Trillanes would file his certificate of candidacy for President, then that would be a Presidential debate, in the style of JFK versus Richard Nixon or Bill Clinton against George Bush. And even that, Binay would still be the ''dejado''. Trillanes looks better, speaks more eloquently and boldly. Binay would be on the defensive. With due respect, Binay does not look good on TV. Trillanes is a star. And the Filipinos are crazy about stars. They will never be judged on the merits. And so, that decision not to debate was a wise one. So far, still good.
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