Ex-Marcos lawyer asks Senate to probe Trillanes' 'treasonable acts'

A lawyer on Monday asked the Senate to investigate the alleged "treasonable acts" of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, referring to the neophyte lawmaker’s backchannel negotiations with China to settle the territorial dispute over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.   "Public interest demands that the treasonable acts of Sen. Antonio Trillanes be investigated to get into the bottom of things and unmask the 'Phantom of Chinese Opera' and 'Fifth Columnist'," lawyer Oliver Lozano said in a letter addressed to the Senate. Lozano had also filed a complaint against Trillanes and President Benigno Aquino III with the Office of the Ombudsman over the same issue.   Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile last week accused Trillanes of undermining the Philippines’ interest in the dispute over the West Philippine Sea during his negotiations with Chinese authorities. He based his allegation from the notes by former Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady during her meeting with Trillanes.   In his letter, Lozano, a former lawyer of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, said "if you are a backdoor negotiator upon dictation of China, you have no choice except to advance its interest to the prejudice of the Philippines.  Treason or not, that is disloyalty to the republic."   He said he specifically wants to find out whether Trillanes "surrendered" the Panatag Shoal in consideration for an $70-billion oil exploration by China in the Philippines.   "Is it true that the kickback is $30 billion? What was the commitment of Sen. Trillanes that allegedly reduced Chinese ships in Scarborough Shoal? Is it true that Sen. Trillanes actually attained his alleged achievement against the interest of his sponsor?" he said.   "Who is the alleged Chinese business tycoon who supported Sen. Trillanes candidacy for senator and had part in the designation of Sen. Trillanes to be a backdoor negotiator? Tan?" he added.   Lozano said he also wants to find out how much in public funds Trillanes spent in his "stealthy trips." "Imagine spending people's money against the people?" he said.   Trillanes could not be immediately reached for comment.   In an interview with reporters on Monday, Enrile said the Senate ethics committee will take care of the complaint.   "Titingnan natin ano mangyayari," he said. — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News