MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has decided to file counter charges against Antonio Tiu, by way of a P6.5-million countersuit.
In a counter charge filed Wednesday before a Quezon City court, Trillanes’ legal representatives, Chan Robles and Associates law firm said that “Sen. Trillanes has suffered sleepless nights, wounded feelings, extreme anxiety and a slur in his reputation as a result of Tiu’s civil case.”
The firm prepared a 29-page counter charge – with motion to dismiss – in which Trillianes appealed to Judge Evangeline Marigomen to mandate Tiu to pay him P5 million in moral damages, P1 million in exemplary damages and P500,000 in attorney’s fees.
Trillanes accused Tiu of being a dummy of Vice President Jejomar Binay, after the former said he is the owner of the controversial property in Rosario, Batangas.
This allegation prompted Tiu to file a P5-million civil case against the Senator, on the grounds that the accusation besmirched his reputation as a businessman.
According to Trillanes’ legal counsel, however, the Senator’s statement was based documents, reports and information which all indicate that Tiu is a dummy of the VicePresident. As such, Tiu cannot hold the Senator responsible for the purported damages inflicted by his statement.