Nancy Binay, Trillanes patch things up

Senator Nancy Binay on Thursday said she and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV have already patched up their differences caused by his sharp criticisms against her father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Binay said Trillanes approached her during the last day of session on March 21 before the Holy Week break and they had an hour-long talk at the Senators' Lounge at the Senate building in Pasay City.

"Nag-explain lang siya kung ano ang pinanggalingan niya. In-explain na niya dati 'yung sa kudeta, sa Oakwood, nung hindi sumipot 'yung daddy ko," she said, referring to her father's non-participation in the uprisings led by Trillanes, a former Navy officer, during the Arroyo administration.

"Naiintindihan din naman daw niya ako pero ayaw niyang i-force ang sarili niya kasi alam naman n'ya na nakasakit siya," Binay added.

Pleasant conversation

Trillanes confirmed to GMA News Online Binay’s statement.

"Senator Binay and I talked about a lot of things and it was a very pleasant conversation," he said via text message.

"I never had anything against her personally but I just respected her space all the this time because I had very bitter political feud with her father, VP Binay, a few years ago."

Trillanes said they didn't talk about the cases of the elder Binay and the libel cases the former vice president filed against him.

It was Trillanes, together with then-Senator and now Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, who initiated the Senate probe against the elder Binay over the alleged overpricing, bid rigging and kickbacks in connection with the construction of Makati City Hall Building II.

The elder Binay was a former mayor of Makati City.

No personal issue

Senator Binay said Trillanes told her that he had no personal issue against her. 

"Sabi niya kaming dalawa personally wala, wala siyang issue sa akin, pero hindi naman daw niya maiaalis na kapamilya ko 'yung tinira niya so naiintindhan niya kung ‘yung feelings ko [ay] hindi maganda towards him," she said.

She said she accepted Trillanes' explanation, admitting that she has been having a hard time with their awkward situation.

"Collegial body kami, ang hirap kaya ng feeling na maglalakad sa hallway kunwari, ang hirap magpanggap na wala kang  nakikita pero may tao talagang nakakasalubong ka. Ang hirap ng ganung scenario," she said.

She added: "At least ngayon wala nang ganung awkward moment. Dati more on ilang, ngayon wala na."

But despite their apparent reconciliation, Senator Binay said the libel charges her father filed against Trillanes will still push through.

"Siyempre tuloy lahat ‘yun," she said. "'Yung sa amin kasi [ni Trillanes] magkakasama kami sa trabaho." —KBK, GMA News