Trillanes expects Binay to cancel debate despite advantage

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV believes that his debate with Vice President Jejomar Binay will be a lopsided match in favor of his political nemesis.

Speaking to ANC's Headstart on Monday, Trillanes said the debate with Binay will be a "mismatch on paper" given the Vice President's political and professional background.

"He is a 30-year veteran in Philippine politics and he is a human rights lawyer who is presumed to be a master of argumentation and debate," Trillanes told ANC.

"On the other hand, myself being a former soldier, I got used to having either giving orders or receiving orders. There's no room for debate. We are not wired for that," he added.

Trillanes admitted that he has not engaged in a debate in his life and that he is one of the worst public speakers in the Senate.

The senator said Binay may have challenged him since he is not a lawyer.

But Trillanes believes that Binay's camp may not allow the debate to push through despite the perceived advantage of the Vice President.

"I'm waiting for the time that they will try to wiggle their way out of this. They will try to find a reason why this has to be cancelled," he said, noting that Binay has repeatedly refused to face the Senate investigation.

Trillanes is standing by allegations that Binay is the real owner of a 350-hectare land in Rosario, Batangas that has become the subject of the Senate probe on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall II parking building.

"For the country's sake, Vice President Jejomar Binay deserves to go in jail," Trillanes said.

In the same ANC interview, Trillanes said more witnesses and documents will be presented against Binay in the next Senate hearing on Thursday.