MANILA – Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV tagged former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile of spewing lies with regards to the former’s backchannel negotiations over the Scarborough Shoal standoff in 2012.
According to Trillanes, most of Enrile’s statements during his appearance in President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Talk to the People” on Monday night were fictitious.
“Itong tao pong ito ay talagang notorious. Ika nga kung may taong tinatawag na imbentor ng fake news, siya na ‘yun…Wala naman pong ginawang maayos yan sa Pilipinas sa hinaba-haba ng kaniyang buhay,” Trillanes told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on Tuesday.
“Grabe mag-magic ito, grabe maglubid ng buhangin itong si Enrile. Lying comes out as naturally as breathing para kay Enrile,” he added.
In the discussion, Enrile questioned why Trillanes was designated the backchannel negotiator and how the former military official had a great influence on Chinese officials.
Trillanes said it was former President Benigno Aquino III who assigned him to hold the backchannel talks since the first choice, Department of Budget and Management secretary Butch Abad, begged off.
He also denied the allegation that he bypassed the country’s envoy to China, stressing that he has yet to arrive in Beijing during the time of his backdoor negotiations.
The former senator urged Enrile to release the alleged “Brady notes,” which was first revealed by the latter during their public spat in a Senate hearing in 2012.
“Kahapon pagkakataon ni Duterte ilabas ‘yun kung anuman ang Brady notes, pero he conveniently forgot. Nawala na raw niya. Kita niyo kung papaano magsinungaling ang mamang ito,” said Trillanes.
Manila and Beijing’s maritime spat reignited in March after more than 200 Chinese vessels were seen at the West Philippine Sea. Despite several diplomatic protests, China refused to withdraw the boats./PN
