MANILA -- Senator Antonio Trillanes IV challenged certain media personalities to substantiate their claims that he bought two condominium units worth P7 million each in Mandaluyong City.
Referring to journalists Arnold Clavio of GMA-7, Jojo Robles of the Manila Standard Today and Deo Macalma of radio dzRH, Trillanes said he is even willing to accompany them to the developer of Twin Oaks at Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong to settle the issue.
The blind items were allegedly aired by Clavio on April 18, which incidentally became the subject of the column of Robles in the Manila Standard on the same day and Macalma's radio program on April 19.
“In response to these obviously well-orchestrated and malicious reports masquerading as blind items, I hereby categorically deny that I have bought a unit or units at the Twin Oaks Condominium, Mandaluyong City. I further state that I do not have any property not declared in my Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN)," the senator said in a statement.
Trillanes, who was jailed for seven years after leading junior military officers in a mutiny against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is the poorest senator in the 15th Congress.
With a net worth of P3,897,121.50, Trillanes listed three properties in his SALN: 240 square meter residential lot in General Trias, Cavite; a 308-meter residential lot in Antipolo City and a 60-square meter residential condominium with a parking slot in Parañaque City.
The senator pegged his assets at P10,682,000 with liabilities of P6,784,878.50. These include two housing loans and two car loans.
Trillanes, a possible reelectionist under the ticket of President Benigno Aquino III, submitted his SALN over a month ahead of the April 30 deadline. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)