Trillanes refused entry to ‘Hacienda Binay’ in Batangas

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo

ROSARIO, BATANGAS, Philippines–After traveling for more than two hours on Thursday, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and the media who went to inspect the controversial property being linked to Vice President Jejomar Binay, were refused entry by a security guard at the gate.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

“Ano, papapasukin n’yo kami?” Trillanes asked the security guard.

(What, aren’t you going to let us in?)

But the security guard, who was just talking to the senator from the guardhouse, told Trillanes to just wait for a while.

While waiting for the gate to be opened, a fuming Trillanes told the media that the security’s refusal to allow him and the media entry to the property only bolstered allegations that the Chinese-Filipino businessman, Antonio Tiu was just the Vice President’s dummy.

Tiu, who faced the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee Wednesday, insisted that he owned a 150-hectare property in Batangas.

Previous reports though said the property was 350 hectares and that it belonged to the Binay family.

“Magbibigay tayo ng isang minuto, ‘pag hindi tayo nakapasok dito malaking problema ito. Magpapaliwanag talaga sila. For that matter, wala nang kelangang ipawanag na kasi kitang-kita na nagsisinungaling talaga si Mr. Tiu,” Trillanes said.

(I will give them a minute, if they still refuse to let us in, then we will have a problem. They will have to explain. But for that matter, there explanation is no longer needed as it is already obvious that Mr. Tiu is lying.)

The senator noted that Tiu himself made a commitment during Wednesday’s hearing that he would open the property for inspection.

Trillanes also noted that contrary to the name of the property, Sunchamp Agri-Tourism, there was no indication that it was indeed a park.

“Supposed to be this is an [agri-tourism] park pero ni signage wala ka ngang makikita e. Talagang this is private property, hindi ‘pang negosyo,” he pointed out.

(Supposed to be this is an agri-tourism park but we can’t even see a signage. This is obviously a private property, and not intended for business.)

After waiting for several minutes and still not allowed entry at the first gate of the park, the senator and the media went to another gate but another security guard also refused to open the gate.