Libel suit against Trillanes a vindication – Binay camp
The camp of former Vice President Jejomar C. Binay considers as a vindication the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s filing of libel charges against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for libel over malicious claims made by the senator against him in 2015.
Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesman, said that the DOJ’s decision to indict Trillanes for libel only confirms that the Senate hearings were purely “in aid of political demolition, not legislation.”
“It confirms what we have been saying all along: That the Senate hearings were in aid of political demolition, not legislation,” Salgado said in a statement.
“And Senator Trillanes hid behind his parliamentary immunity in order to pollute the people’s minds with his lies as part of a well-orchestrated job against Vice President Binay,” he added.
Salgado also added that the DOJ’s decision also exposes Trillanes as “a fake crusader against fake news,” which apparently began as early as 2015 – “and Senator Trillanes was its pioneer.”
“Apparently, fake news began as early 2015 and Senator Trillanes was its pioneer,” Salgado said.
The DOJ said it found probable cause to charge Trillanes for accusing Binay of receiving R100 million for projects involving senior citizens in Makati during Binay’s term as mayor.
The information sheet, signed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog and approved by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon, said Trillanes issued malicious statements published in an online news site, “defaming, maligning the reputation and causing dishonor” to Binay.
Trillanes was then one of the senators leading the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee investigation on Binay's alleged corrupt acts during his term as Makati city mayor.
Earlier, Binay dismissed the senator’s accusations that he perpetrated a R100-million “racket” annually in Makati City on projects involving senior citizens as “utterly false and baseless.”
Binay said Trillanes' statements constitute a violation of Article 355, in relation to Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code.