Binay reveals why he backed out of Trillanes-led mutiny

Vice President Jejomar Binay says Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is a liar and has messianic complex. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—Vice President Jejomar Binay finally disclosed on Thursday the reason why he backed out of the failed mutiny against the Arroyo administration in 2007 two months after the issue was first brought up by one of his staunchest accusers, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

The foiled mutiny also known as the Manila Peninsula siege was launched by rebel soldiers led by Trillanes, then Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade, who revived the issue in November last year when Binay backed out of their scheduled one-on-one debate.

It was Trillanes who initiated the Senate probe on the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall 2 parking building which purportedly involved Binay when he was still the city mayor.

“Alam mo si Mr. Trillanes, napakasinungaling na tao n’yan (You know, Mr. Trillanes is such a liar),” Binay said in a televised interview on Thursday.

‘Yon e hindi na ako sumama. Pero hindi lang ako, ha? Kami nila Bro. Mike e hindi na sumama no’ng bandang huli kasi maraming agenda na hindi naman sinasabi ro’n sa mga sumasama,” he said, apparently referring to charismatic leader Bro. Mike Velarde.

(I wasn’t the only one who backed out. Even Bro. Mike backed out in the end because they (mutineers) had several agenda that weren’t explained to those who planned to join.)

And when Trillanes was behind bars, Binay said the senator confronted him for supposedly not fulfilling is promise to back them up.

“E may messianic complex ‘yan. Sabagay hanggang ngayon naman,”the Vice President said of Trillanes.

(He has a messianic complex even until now.)

“Messianic complex” or “messiah complex” is defined by psychologydictionary.org as “a complex in which sufferers have a desire to redeem and save others, some sufferers have harboured the delusion of being a saviour of people.”

“Alam mo ba na sa kanyang pag-aakala, e ‘yong sa Ayala, magbababaan kagaya no’ng sa EDSA 1 at susuporta. Wala namang bumaba. Kaya napilitan silang mag-retreat, napunta sa [Manila] Peninsula. May messianic complex. S’ya ang magaling. Pero ‘pag tiningnan mo naman ‘yong mga pinaggaganyan e napaka-questionable,” Binay added.

(Did you know that when he walked on Ayala (Ave.), he thought the people in the buildings would go down just liked what had happened during Edsa 1 and support their cause. No one went down. So they were forced to retreat and go to the Peninsula instead. He has messianic complex. He believes he is really good. But if you look at the things he has done, you would see they are questionable.)

Binay issued the statement following Trillanes’ fresh accusations regarding his alleged involvement in anomalous deals with favored developers in mass housing projects.

But the Vice President, who is also concurrent head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), brushed aside the senator’s allegation.

He said no less than the senator himself admitted that he had no evidence to prove his own allegations.

“Si Trillanes, aminado naman s’ya [na] wala s’yang ebidensya. Hindsight lang. Standard talaga ‘yon e, shooting from the hip. Basta lang makapagbintang, kasi naman ang habol lang e perception,” the Vice President said.

(Trillanes already admitted that he (is hurling these accusations based on) hindsight and not evidence. It has become standard to him—shooting from the hip. He accuses just for the sake of it because he is only after the perception.)

“D’yan medyo kawawa ang mga government official. Kapag pinagbintangan, kahit kasinungalingan, naniniwala agad ‘yong ibang kababayan natin. Hindi ba maghintay ng paliwanagan,” he added.

(That’s where government officials are at a disadvantage. When they are accused—even if the accusations are lies—some already believe them. They cannot wait for the officials to explain their side.)

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