VP Binay blasts Trillanes, says he threatened witness

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday hit back at Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for the latter's conduct at the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee hearing on the Makati City Hall II parking building.

At a televised press conference, Binay reiterated that the Senate probe initiated by Trillanes is politically motivated and is being used by their opponents to malign him and his family.

Binay particularly accused Trillanes of intimidating a representative of the parking building's contractor to prevent the witness from testifying at the Senate probe.

He said Trillanes probably feared the witness would disprove that the controversial building was overpriced.

But when the witness was able to testify, Trillanes continued to intimidate him, Binay further claimed.

"Itong testigong ito na kinatawan ng kontratista ay pinagmumura ni Senator Trillanes," the Vice President said.

"Ito ay minura, tinakot, dinuro at ipinasasama pa sa reklamo na plunder," he added.

Binay said the words and actions of Trillanes and Senator Alan Cayetano during the Senate hearing prove that the investigation is not in aid of legislation, but a "politicized forum" that seeks to find criminal liability in the construction of the carpark building.

"Layunin po nilang tapunan kami ng kung anu-anong paratang at kasinungalingan," Binay said.

The Vice President, the front-runner in the presidential surveys, believes that his political foes are out to bring down his poll ratings.

"Bakit nila ngayon ginagawa ang paninira sa akin? Dahil sa impormasyon na malapit na magsimula ang survey sa isang linggo, gusto nilang maapektuhan ng kanilang paninira ang suporta sa akin ng taumbayan," Binay said.

During the same press conference, Binay categorically denied receiving kickbacks from the allegedly overpriced construction of the parking building.

Binay claimed the controversial project went through the Commission on Audit six times in 10 years and no irregularities were found.

"Ako at ang aking pamilya ay walang tinanggap na kahit anumang pera sa kahit anumang transaksyon sa Makati," he said.

The former Makati mayor added that he is willing to face a "fair" investigation of the controversy.