Trillanes denies breaking Senate rules

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday insisted that he did not violate Senate rules when he revealed that police commandos got Army soldiers drunk before the Mamasapano operation.

The said information which came from the Senate executive session was confidential.

READ: ‘SAF troopers got Army soldiers drunk before Mamasapano raid’

Trillanes denied the allegations that he disclosed sensitive information. The senator said that he talked to Army officials and was allowed to disclose to the public the said information.

”The issue here is whether true or not the information I revealed is material to what really happened," Trillanes said.

The senator also clarified that the Special Action Force (SAF) officials did not deliberately get Army officials intoxicated so that they could not participate during the operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao which left 44 police commandos dead.

”They were not intoxicated so that they will not be able to respond but they have been invited in a dinner with some drinks. The commanders have been invited and their objective is to make sure that they have no appointments the next day,” the senator explained.

Trillanes maintained that the Army and President Benigno Aquino III should not be blamed for the bloody incident.

Instead, he suggested that the 120 SAF commandos who were on standby but did not respond should be investigated.

”According to the Oplan Exodus, these 120 troopers beside the river should come close but they did not. They did not follow the order of Gen. (Getulio) Napenas. Whatever the reason, they should explain,” the senator said.

Police Board of Inquiry Director Benjamin Magalong earlier denied the claims of Trillanes, noting that he was misinformed.

RELATED: BOI head: Trillanes was misinformed