Erice will not back down from Binay, will face P200-M damage suit

Caloocan Representative Edgar “Egay” Erice (Facebook photo)

MANILA – Caloocan Representative Edgar “Egay” Erice disclosed that he was not threatened by Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay’s P200-million damage suit against him and some others.

In fact, he even took it as a ‘privilege’ to ‘fight’ the Vice President.

“It’s a privilege to serve our country by fighting a man whose greed for power endangers our morals and the democratic processes. I am ready and I am inspired to do more,” Erice said in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report.

“Maybe his need for money is really insatiable that’s why he’s asking for P200 million,” he added.

Likewise, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV scoffed Binay’s libel and slander complaint, saying that none of his vocal critics will be intimidated or frightened by it. He also promised to expose more hidden anomalies of the Vice President and his family.

“I will face this case in court and continue exposing his wrongdoings,” Trillanes said in Tagalog.

Binay filed the damage suit before the Makati City Regional Trial Court on Monday.

Named respondents in the case were Erice, Trillanes, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, former Makati Engineer Mario Hechanova, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., Securities and Exchange Commission head Teresita Herbosa, Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc, Attorney Renato Bondal, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) officials and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The Vice President accused the individuals of allegedly conspiring with one another to defame his good reputation as part of their black propaganda against him; he also slammed the newspaper for publishing defamatory news against him.

“Due to (i) the political ambitions of the defendants in the upcoming May 2016 elections; (ii) the disdain and personal animosity of the defendants toward the Plaintiff; and/or (ii) the insatiable greed of the defendants for power and money, the defendants, acting in conspiracy and in collusion with one another, decided to blatantly and publicly malign the good name and reputation of the Plaintiff,” Binay’s complaint read.

The Vice President claimed that the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee’s investigation on the purported overpriced Makati City Hall Building II, Makati Science High School, among others, had ‘baseless’ evidences and testimonies. He also asserted that he was already ‘prejudged’ even when the hearings were still ongoing.