Binay camp cries: Trillanes’ ‘bullying must be stopped’

THE alleged “bullying and clear arrogance” of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV must be stopped by the court, the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay said on Tuesday.

Lawyer Rico Quicho, spokesman for political affairs of Binay, issued the statement after Trillanes said that the vice president was “panicking” after Binay filed a P200-million damage suit against him and 12 other respondents.

“The complaint filed by the Vice President against certain parties including Senator Trillanes is a legitimate redress of grievance. This also shows that the rule of law is non-negotiable,” Quicho said in a statement.

Quicho claimed that the vice president has “received the unkindest of accusations bereft of any merit that are deeply rooted on a concerted effort to discredit and humiliate him.”

“It is about time that Senator Trillanes’ bullying and clear arrogance of power be reviewed and stopped by a court of competent jurisdiction after a fair and impartial administration of justice,” he said.

Trillanes is part of the Senate blue ribbon sub-committee investigating the alleged massive corruption in Makati City during the term of vice president Binay.

Though invited by the Senate, Binay has never attended a hearing, saying the investigation was politically motivated.

“The Vice President has exhibited political maturity even with the barrage of irresponsible attacks,” Quicho said.

Quicho said Binay has faced his accusers in court while Trillanes was hiding behind parliamentary immunity.

“He has chosen to face his accusers squarely in a court of law, and is not hiding behind parliamentary immunity like Senator Trillanes or the Witness Protection Program like the other accusers,” he said.

“Senator Trillanes has, time and again, slandered private individuals, sitting justices and legitimate entities without any proof. This must be stopped and it is time to bring back decency and responsibility to Senator Trillanes’ vocabulary,’” he said.