VP camp on Magdalo presence on pig farm: Acts of mercy

MANILA, Philippines–The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday sought to justify the presence of Magdalo soldiers on his pig farm in Batangas province, saying he had given them jobs after the failed Oakwood mutiny and Manila Peninsula Hotel takeover.

Debunking Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV’s claims of Binay’s supposed involvement in the botched Manila Peninsula siege in 2007, Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla said Binay’s acts of mercy to the soldiers explained why they were on his Batangas farm.

“After the attempted coup d’etat at Oakwood and Peninsula, soldiers who lost their jobs after what they did went to him to ask for help. The Vice President protected them under his care and gave them jobs,” said Remulla, one of Binay’s spokespersons.

The Vice President had received information that Trillanes was planning to release photos of the Magdalo soldiers in Binay’s piggery, Remulla said. Trillanes, then a Navy junior grade lieutenant, was one of the leaders of the botched Oakwood and Peninsula capers.

“Some of them were assigned to guard the piggery,” Remulla said. “Now they will show pictures. But those pictures were taken after the fact, not before the Peninsula siege. His help was sought and he just opened his door for them,” he said.

“Come, I will help you. Work for me so you can support your families,” Remulla said, quoting Binay.

He declined participation

Remulla insisted that Binay, then mayor of Makati City, did not play any part in the planning of the attempted Peninsula putsch, adding that Binay was asked to participate but he declined.

“According to the Vice President, when they brought up the idea [of a coup], he simply told them nothing good will come out of this. So if you saw him at that time, he was with Erap (former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada). He was not with Senator Trillanes,” Remulla said.

The Cavite governor also denied Trillanes’ claim that the arms used for the siege would not have been smuggled without the help of the Makati City government.

“The security guards of City Hall were carrying small pistols. From what I know, [the Magdalo soldiers] forced their way up to City Hall with long firearms. The security guards were no match against them,” Remulla said.

Remulla said that after the hearing of rebellion charges at the Makati Regional Trial Court on Nov. 29, 2007, Trillanes took then Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, a coaccused in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, by his arms and said, “Come, be with us.” Remulla said the group then forced their way out of City Hall. The mutineers then proceeded to the Peninsula.