Senate panel says ethics case vs Trillanes sufficient in form, substance
In this file photo, Senators Antonio Trillanes (L) and Richard Gordon (R) attend a Senate committee hearing on the Bureau of Customs smuggling case on September 7, 2017. Photo by Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines – The Senate ethics committee found the complaint by Senator Richard Gordon against Senator Antonio Trillanes sufficient in form and substance.
“The complaint is sufficient form and substance except for issue number 5. With no objection, motion is approved,” said Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, committee chairman, on Monday, September 11.
Sotto said the committee would now ask Trillanes to submit his counter-affidavit.
Present during the hearing were Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Risa Hontiveros, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, and Panfilo Lacson.
Of the 9 points raised by Gordon, 8 were considered substantial. The only issue scrapped was Trillanes’ involvement in two coups d’etat – the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny and the 2007 incident at the Manila Peninsula Hotel.
In his complaint, Gordon said Trillanes' actions affected the tourism industry. He was then the tourism secretary.
“Senators are expected to be beyond reproach and to abide by the highest standards of conduct. Senator Trillanes has shown that he is incorrigible by exhibiting that, even after he was forgiven, he would do his transgressions against,” Gordon said in his complaint.
Drilon opposed the inclusion of the issue, saying the 2003 coup happened before Trillanes was elected into office. He also added that Trillanes was already granted amnesty for the 2007 coup against then former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In Gordon’s 23-page complaint filed last week, the senator said Trillanes has a “pattern of unbecoming conduct and insulting language.”
Gordon filed a complaint after a heated argument with the opposition senator, who called the Senate blue ribbon committee a “committee de absuwelto" for initially refusing inviting presidential son Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and son-in-law Manases Carpio to a Senate probe.
In response, Trillanes said he would file a counter ethics complaint against Gordon. He also threatened to "expose" Gordon's corrupt acts in the Philippine Red Cross. – Rappler.com
