Enrile, Trillanes trade more barbs

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senator  Antonio Trillanes IV dared Senate  President  Juan Ponce-Enrile on Thursday to file a case against  him  if he committed a criminal act when he acted as a backdoor negotiator on the Scarborough Shoal dispute with China.

“Kung sya may nakita syang any criminal act dun sa nakasulat doon, sya ang magaling na abugado, file-an nya ako ng kaso [If he saw any criminal act there, he’s a good lawyer, then file a case against me]. In fact, I challenge him, Senator  Enrile, kung meron akong ginawa mali, file-an mo ako ng kaso [If I did something wrong, file a case  against  me],” Trillanes said in a television interview.

Trillanes was referring  to the  purported  notes of  Philippine ambassador  to China Sonia Brady during  their meeting  last month in Bejing.

He repeated this challenge to Enrile who was in the same interview via phone patch.

But the Senate leader said  he was  not going  to  waste his time  on  Trillanes, saying: “You’re not worth my time.”

Trillanes countered by enumerating how the Senate  leader had been quiet about  the plunder  case and  other alleged heinous acts  by former  President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In fact, Trillanes said, Enrile allegedly acted as Arroyo’s lawyer and “defender” in the Senate during the past administration.

“I’m not surprised if he got a lot of concessions from her,”  Trillanes said in Filipino.

Responding  to  Trillanes, Enrile said: “This defender of  GMA, defended you so you will be freed  from jail.”

“That guy would have rot in  jail if I did not work for his release as Senate President. That’s how grateful  (this person is),” Enrile added.

But Trillanes said the full credit of his release should go to President Benigno Aquino III and assuming that he owed Enrile, he said it should not give the Senate leader the right to trample  on his  dignity as a person and a senator of this country.

Enrile retorted: “As far I’m concerned, Mr. Senator you don’t deserve my respect. I’m telling you to your face.”

“Well, the feeling is mutual Senator Enrile,” said Trillanes.

“That’s all right,” Enrile answered.