Trillanes denies intimidating contractor of controversial Makati building

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday denied intimidating the president of Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation, the contractor of the controversial Makati City Hall Building II, as accused by Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Trillanes made the denial during Thursday's hearing by the Senate blue ribbon committee, which is investigating the alleged overpricing in the construction of the building in 2007.

At the hearing, lawyer Rogelio Peig, Hilmarc's assistant vice president for legal, said their president, Robert Henson, decided to defer their presentation during the last hearing after being approached by a Senate staff.

He also said that Trillanes talked to them after the hearing.

“Ang sabi po niya ay wag nyo akong sisihin kasi sinabihan ko kayo. Bubuhusan namin ito. I don’t know what he meant,” Peig told the committee.

Peig had not yet mentioned Trillanes' name when the senator butted in, saying his name was mentioned.

Trillanes said he did not intimidate Henson and the others.

“Sinabi ko ba sa inyo na gumawa kayo ng kwento? Sinabi ko ba na ipitin nyo kung sinuman?” he asked Peig. “I was trying to protect you pero kung sasama kayo sa cover-up bahala kayo. Kung makakayanan nyo na si Vice President Binay ay magiging president, di suking suki kayo. It is a big gamble on your part. If you are part of the cover-up bubuhusan ito ng lahat ng penalties of the law.”

Trillanes has accused Binay, who was Makati mayor in 2007, of having a hand in the alleged overpricing in the Makati City Hall Building II.

He also said it was Henson who decided that they will not make the presentation and will just observe the hearing.

Peig clarified that the conversation with Trillanes was “very friendly.”

Trillanes said he also wanted to make it clear that he did not bully the resource person.

Binay earlier accused Trillanes of intimidating the contractor of the building. He did not mention any names.  

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito recommended that Peig be protected by the Senate. Trillanes, however, voiced his opposition to this.

Peig said there is no threat to his life. He also denied being instructed by Binay to deliver a statement against Trillanes.

“Pumunta ako dito as representative of Hilmarc’s.  Yung statement ko ay in my own volition,” he said. —KBK, GMA News