Binay may no longer run for president - Trillanes

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV believes that Vice President Jejomar Binay may no longer run for president in 2016 due to the corruption allegations against him.

In an interview with ANC's Headstart on Monday, Trillanes said Binay may have no other option but to back out of his 2016 plan if and when his ratings continue to decline and cases are filed against him before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

"I think by the middle of the year, he would feel that it's going to be a lost cause. So instead of spending his billions, he'd rather keep it and just strike a concession with a leading candidate," Trillanes said.

The senator said Binay has a "long history of backing out" including his decision to cancel their public debate in November 2014 and his alleged failure to participate in the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.

"It's part of his character, he would appear brave at some point, then during crunch time, he buckles," Trillanes claimed.

In a separate interview on ANC, Binay's spokesperson belittled Trillanes' belief that Binay will no longer pursue his plan for 2016.

"Sen. Trillanes is entitled to his opinion," said lawyer Rico Quicho. "That is far from the horizon (Binay not running for president)."

Trillanes and former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado have accused Binay and his family of accumulating ill-gotten wealth through various allegedly anomalous projects in Makati.

Their latest allegation is that Binay, the longtime president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, pocketed nearly P200 million in kickbacks from a land deal with Alphaland Corp.

Binay has consistently denied all the accusations, saying the Senate probe on the allegations against him is only aimed at derailing his presidential ambition.

Binay's scores have declined in various surveys though he remains to be the most preferred presidential candidate. -Louis Bacani