Trillanes: Binay a ‘lifelong thief,’ Duterte undisciplined, Poe ‘enthusiastic’

#INQLive: Roundtable discussion with VP bet Sen. Sonny Trillanes #VotePH2016

Posted by INQUIRER.net on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

A LIFELONG thief, a guy who has no discipline, and someone enthusiastic with change.

Vice presidential aspirant Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was describing three candidates seeking the highest national post in the land in the upcoming May polls Tuesday night during a roundtable interview with Inquirer editors and reporters.

Trillanes called Binay a plunderer and maintained:  “Personally, I just don’t believe he’s going to be a good president for the country…Right now I’m going to do everything I can to spare the Philippines a Binay presidency.”

“I am 100 percent certain that Binay will not change. He is a lifelong thief and plunderer…Harassing techniques of Binay is quite standard for him. That’s what he does,” he added.

Trillanes initiated the months-long Senate probe on the corruption allegations against the Vice President over the controversial Makati City Hall Building II. The Commission on Audit recently released its special audit report that recommended sanctions against Binay over the allegedly anomalous construction of the parking building.

The 148-page special audit report against Binay said he was administratively liable for gross misconduct, dishonesty and gross inexcusable negligence, graft and corrupt practices in connection with crimes that he allegedly committed while he was still Makati mayor, as head of procuring entity from 2007 to 2010.

As for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who edged out Binay in the latest Pulse Asia survey, Trillanes said the tough-talking local executive lacked discipline, contrary to the image he was supposedly portraying.

“How do you expect discipline from a guy who is not disciplined himself?” Trillanes said, adding that Duterte was often tardy and cancelled commitments on the last minute.

The soldier-turned-senator also raised doubts on the integrity of the people surrounding the mayor, particularly the supposed allies of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo whom he called the “symbol of corruption.”

“The problem with the Duterte presidency, I have an idea of the people around him–a mix of GMA people and some political rejects that are not inspiring,” Trillanes said.

“If you really are a good leader, you won’t allow these people to be associated with you. In fact ‘yung mga rabid Duterte followers tend to gloss over these things eh,” he added.

Trillanes said Duterte’s promise to totally wipe out drugs and criminality within six months if elected was not believable.

“It’s not like Duterte will have a magic wand to solve these problems. These are the signs and people tend to gloss over those signs,” he said.

Asked who he would pick between Binay and Duterte, Trillanes said he would rather not choose, but added that the mayor was not corrupt like the Vice President.

“I believe si Duterte to be fair hindi naman siya corrupt. Si Binay iba to, eh. I believe he wants to be the richest man in the world at the expense of the Filipino nation,” said Trillanes, who is supporting the presidential bid of Sen. Grace Poe.

Trillanes said Poe, who has maintained her lead in recent preference surveys less than two months before the elections, would have “fresh ideas” once elected president.

“Binay never renounced his citizenship, but does he love the country? We should look at the character that should be given primacy,” Trillanes said when asked about Poe’s citizenship.

“She would have fresh ideas. She won’t be a cynic but would be enthusiastic with reforms,” he added.

Trillanes, who was trailing other vice presidential bets in survey ratings, remind the voting public to choose deserving leaders who will propel the Philippines to progress.

“If we pick the right leaders we will take off definitely. There will be peace,” he said.

“The upcoming [election] is a critical point in our nation’s history. Don’t fall into the trap of going with the flow. You have to scrutinize so you’ll be able to see the potential on what these candidates can and will actually do,” Trillanes added. AC

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