Trillanes at hearing
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has issued the following statement regarding the rumor that he owns condo units in Mandaluyong:
" Last 18 April 2012, Mr. Arnold Clavio alluded to me in his radio program over DZBB as the buyer of two condominium units in Twin Oaks at Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City amounting to seven million pesos each. This was the same subject of the column of Mr. Jojo Robles in Manila Standard on the same day and the radio program of Mr. Deo Macalma on 19 April 2012.
" In response to these obviously well-orchestrated and malicious reports masquerading as blind items, I hereby categorically deny that I have bought a unit or units at the Twin Oaks Condominium, Mandaluyong City. I further state that I do not have any property not declared in my Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN).
" I am willing to accompany these media personalities to the developer of Twin Oaks to clarify this issue once and for all.
" Finally, I have been one of the foremost advocates of a free and independent media as an instrument for transparency in governance.
"Towards this end, I am the principal author of the freedom of information (FOI) bill in the Senate; I also filed a bill that will expand the confidentiality of media sources; and I openly pushed for the decriminalization of libel. Moreover, I am one of those who publicly condemned the killing of media men. But the media, as an institution, should also do its part in promoting responsible journalism.
"Be assured, though, that this unfortunate incident will not discourage me from vigorously pursuing this advocacy."
I have an idea how that malicious rumor started. The senator was invited to a dinner by a friend and one of the guests happened to be the owner of Twin Oaks. The businessman offered to show the senator his property.
The senator obliged the businessman and looked at the place. But he did not buy.
Looking is different from buying.
Those who want to report about Trillanes properties can get his SALN from the Senate. They will see there that the condo unit he owns is in Paranaque City, 60-square meter with one parking slot worth P3.4 million which he bought through a loan.
With a networth of P3,897,121.00, Trillanes is the poorest member of the Senate.