MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — Sen. Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV asked the Department of Justice on Thursday to dismiss the libel case against him filed by suspended Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay.
In his 44-page counter affidavit with a motion to dismiss, Trillanes denied points raised in Binay's affidavit and noted they were made in the performance of his duties as senator.
Trillanes, who attended the preliminary investigation on the case at the DOJ in Manila, insisted he has parliamentary immunity.
The senator was charged with libel for claiming that Binay bribed two Court of Appeals Associate Justices with P25 million each to stop the six-month preventive suspension order imposed on him by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Trillanes's camp said in the counter affidavit the alleged bribery is a "matter of public concern" and made as "part of the public debate on the matter and constitute protected free speech."
Earlier this month, Trillanes was also summoned by the Court of Appeals for claiming that two of its magistrates received bribes.
Trillanes, along with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, also faces a damage complaint filed by Vice President Jejomar Binay before the Ombudsman's office over the alleged demolition job against him.
Cayetano and Trillanes are two of the members of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee investigating allegations of corruption against the Binay family.