Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is “all bark but no bite.”
This was how the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay described Trillanes after the latter issued a statement saying the vice president would eventually back out from the 2016 presidential race.
“From the start, I’ve been saying that at some point, Vice President Binay will withdraw from the race, and I still believe that,” Trillanes reiterated on Tuesday, adding that Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada would run for president in 2016 in lieu of Binay.
In response to this, lawyer Rico Quicho, Binay’s spokesman for political affairs, said in a statement, “Senator 1% Trillanes may dream all day, but the Vice President will pursue his candidacy anchored on a pro-poor platform.”
Binay’s camp earlier said that the vice president would not be deterred and will continue to pursue his goal of providing the public with a competent and caring government.
“It is about time that poverty be squarely addressed through employment, good and quality education for the youth, and proper healthcare,” Quicho said.
He said the track record and accomplishment of Binay in Makati and as a vice president would speak for itself.
”Hindi naman makatutulong sa ating mga kababayan ang puro pa-epal ni Senator 1% Trillanes,” Quicho added.
On Monday, Binay filed his certificate of candidacy together with his running mate, Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan.
But on the same day of his filing, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that there is a probable cause to file multiple cases for corruption against the vice president.
The camp of Binay slammed the Ombudsman, accusing the anti-graft body of “engaging in a highly partisan political maneuver.”
“The Office of the Ombudsman is clearly engaged in a highly partisan political maneuver of trial by publicity and demolition by perception,” Quicho said. JE