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After saying controversial statements against Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is now willing to shut up, but on one condition.
Trillanes said he'll remain mum if Enrile keeps the notes from Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady private.
“Please understand that I have heeded the request of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to refrain from making any further comments regarding my role as the back channel negotiator to China,” Trillanes said.
But the former Navy officer fired a last shot to defend himself against Enrile’s allegations, which he dismissed as “plain and simple propaganda.”
Trillanes refused to back out from his “word war” against the senate president, whom he accused of using Brady’s notes to avoid association with former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
He issued the statement after Enrile disclosed receiving information that Trillanes linked Budget Secretary Butch Abad to a planned Senate coup.
“Let me also clarify that Secretary Butch Abad has no knowledge of any attempt to unseat Senator Enrile as senate president,” Trillanes added.
“Senator Enrile is just sowing intrigue between me and the Palace," he reiterated.
In an interview with ANC, Enrile said a "very respected religious leader" informed him about a plan to oust him as senate president.
Recalling a conversation with the religious leader, he said Trillanes even bragged that Abad has approved the move to unseat him.
Abad, for his part, issued a statement denying the accusations.
“It is absolutely not true. In the first place, why would we do that to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who has proven to be a reliable ally of the President? That is simply preposterous," Abad said in a statement.
On Wednesday, Enrile called Trillanes “a fraud and coward” for walking out of plenary session during his speech that revealed “the real story” behind Trillanes’ mission as special envoy China.
Enrile alleged that the neophyte senator told “falsehoods” to Chinese officials in a bid to ease the tension between Beijing and Manila about claims over Panatag or Scarborough Shoal in May.
The Philippines vowed Thursday to fight China "to the last man standing", as a Chinese warship patrolled around a remote reef occupied by a handful of Filipino marines in disputed waters.
