MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday reacted to an online video showing him praising businessman Antonio Tiu, an alleged dummy of Vice President Jejomar Binay.
The video, which was posted to Youtube by user "Agri TourismPH" last week, showed Trillanes congratulating Tiu during the launch of the Sunchamp Agri-Tourism Park.
Trillanes has accused Tiu of acting as front of the Binays, the alleged real owner of the controversial agricultural estate in Rosario, Batangas.
But in the said video, which is nearly two minutes in length, Trillanes offered nothing but good words to Tiu, whom he described as a "good friend" and a "visionary" in the agricultural sector.
"When I was invited by our good friend, Mr. Tony Tiu, kahit na meron po tayong bad cold this morning, kailangan makita natin at masuportahan siya, makita natin yung ating paniniwala sa kanyang vision for agriculture," Trillanes said in the video.
The senator said Tiu's project will boost the country's economy and Batangas'.
In a statement this morning, Trillanes said he already manifested in the Blue Ribbon sub-committee hearing on October 8 that he had been to the alleged Hacienda Binay when he was invited to the Sunchamp launching last August 5.
Trillanes said he was invited with former senator and now Presidential assistant for food security and agricultural modernization Francis Pangilinan.
"I knew Tony Tiu then as a good man and a legitimate businessman," Trillanes said.
He explained that as Tiu's friend, he offered good words to him not knowing that they, as administration allies, "were already being used to legitimize the dummy layering by Sunchamp of the Hacienda Binay."
"Now, after learning that Tony Tiu is nothing but a dummy of VP Binay, things have changed. And whatever friendship we had then won't stop me from unmasking him," Trillanes concluded.
Tiu has denied allegations that he is Binay's dummy, insisting that he has only met the Vice President three times.
On Wednesday, Tiu was grilled by Trillanes and other members of the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee investigating the corruption allegations hurled against Binay.
Tiu failed to convince the senators that he is the owner of the Batangas property after saying that he does not yet have its title under his name.