MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV denied on Monday that he was being elitist when he criticized Vice President Jejomar Binay for portraying himself as an "underdog" by claiming that he's one with the poor.
In an interview with ANC's Headstart, Trillanes explained why he used the term "asal-mahirap" in reference to Binay after visiting his alleged 350-hectare agricultural property in Rosario Batangas last week.
"Ang nakita natin dito sa ocular visit na ito ay 'yung dalawang mundo ni Vice President Binay. 'Yung isang mundo na nagpapanggap siya na asal-mahirap, na galing siya sa hirap na maki-mahirap. Even pati 'yung kulay niya pinagmamalaki niya na 'I am mahirap'," Trillanes said.
"Pero dito sa sikretong mundo pala niya, siya ay namumuhay ng karangyaan bilang hari. So sabi ko, diyan makikita ng mga kababayan natin yung pagbabalat-kayo nitong taong ito," he added.
Trillanes said his remarks were distorted by Binay.
"It is expected that the Binay camp will try to twist everything up to make it appear that this is a class war. Of course, it's not," Trillanes told ANC.
Trillanes said he cannot be considered as anti-poor when remains to be the poorest senator.
He further claimed that his political opponents, including Binay, had tried but failed in digging up corruption allegations against him.
On Sunday, Binay said those behind "Oplan Stop Nognog 2016" are elitists and anti-poor, singling out Trillanes for supposedly calling him "kulay-mahirap and "asal-mahirap."
"This is just another proof of Mr. Trillanes’ anti-poor thinking. All of those behind the smear campaign against me think lowly of the poor and those who are dark-skinned," was said.
Trillanes is a member of the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-committee investigating the corruption allegations against Binay, including the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall II parking building and the controversial Batangas property.