Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Antonio Trillanes IV dared Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile on Thursday to file a case against him if he committed a criminal act when he acted as a backdoor negotiator on the Scarborough Shoal dispute with China.
“Kung sya may nakita syang any criminal act dun sa nakasulat doon, sya ang magaling na abugado, file-an nya ako ng kaso [If he saw any criminal act there, he’s a good lawyer, then file a case against me]. In fact, I challenge him, Senator Enrile, kung meron akong ginawa mali, file-an mo ako ng kaso [If I did something wrong, file a case against me],” Trillanes said in a television interview.
Trillanes was referring to the purported notes of Philippine ambassador to China Sonia Brady during their meeting last month in Bejing.
He repeated this challenge to Enrile who was in the same interview via phone patch.
But the Senate leader said he was not going to waste his time on Trillanes, saying: “You’re not worth my time.”
Trillanes countered by enumerating how the Senate leader had been quiet about the plunder case and other alleged heinous acts by former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In fact, Trillanes said, Enrile allegedly acted as Arroyo’s lawyer and “defender” in the Senate during the past administration.
“I’m not surprised if he got a lot of concessions from her,” Trillanes said in Filipino.
Responding to Trillanes, Enrile said: “This defender of GMA, defended you so you will be freed from jail.”
“That guy would have rot in jail if I did not work for his release as Senate President. That’s how grateful (this person is),” Enrile added.
But Trillanes said the full credit of his release should go to President Benigno Aquino III and assuming that he owed Enrile, he said it should not give the Senate leader the right to trample on his dignity as a person and a senator of this country.
Enrile retorted: “As far I’m concerned, Mr. Senator you don’t deserve my respect. I’m telling you to your face.”
“Well, the feeling is mutual Senator Enrile,” said Trillanes.
“That’s all right,” Enrile answered.