Sen. Antonio Trillanes. SCREENGRAB from CNN Philippines Livestream
SENATOR Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV on Sunday took to the first and only vice presidential debate and used the occasion to go on with his self-mandated crusade to “spare the Philippines from a Binay presidency.”
In an ambush interview after the debate at the University of Santo Tomas, Trillanes said exposing Binay’s “true character” was part of his “moral obligation” and “love for country.”
“Sabi ko nga kung hindi namin ipinakilala si Vice President Binay, ‘yung totoo niyang pagkatao, eh di sana ‘yan ang magiging presidente natin,” Trillanes said.
“It was my moral obligation, aside from my duty to expose him. Malaya yung ating eleksyon—competitive si Duterte, si Sen. Grace Poe, Mar Roxas. Pagmamahal sa bayan ‘yung ginawa namin,” he said.
It was Trillanes who initiated the months-long Senate probe on the corruption allegations against Binay, regarding the latter’s alleged involvement in the anomalous construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.
The soldier-turned-senator said he was reacting to the statement of fellow vice presidential aspirant Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who said Senate hearings were being used in politicking. During the debate, Sen. Alan Cayetano took a swipe at Marcos, saying that the son and namesake of the late dictator never appeared in any Senate hearing on corruption.
The three-hour debate, sanctioned by the Commission on Elections and organized by CNN Philippines, zeroed in on corruption, poverty, political dynasties, human rights, peace and order, traffic and other urban problems, connectivity and foreign policy.
“At least nakilala kaming lahat. Maganda behikulo ito na makilala kami, papaano kami mag-isip at ano ang posisyon namin sa iba’t ibang isyu,” Trillanes said.