Lacson says Binay-Cayetano feud over new Senate home ‘painful to watch’

Panfilo “Ping” Lacson | PHOTO: Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines—Former Senator Panfilo Lacson said he is saddened by the quarrel between two incumbent senators over the new Senate building in Taguig City.

It was “painful  to watch,”  according to Lacson, referring to the bitter exchange between Senators  Alan Peter Cayetano and  Nancy Binay.

Cayetano and Binay traded barbs last Wednesday as the Senate committee on accounts began reviewing the cost of the building.

Both Lacson and Binay previously chaired the committee.

The panel is currently headed by Cayetano following a change in Senate leadership last May.

“While the public hearing conducted by the Committee on Accounts is a correct call by the present Senate leadership since the issue involves public funds, the ensuing exchange between two former colleagues last Wednesday was painful to watch, to say the least,”  Lacson said in a statement on Wednesday.

When he was the head of the committee,  Lacson envisioned the new Senate home to be “world-class” and “iconic.”

But  he is now saddened that it is now perceived  “as another symbol of government abuse of public funds.”

“While a century-old dream for the Philippines Senate to finally have its own home, one that is iconic, secure, functional and green is about to come to fruition, it is sad that it is now perceived, rightly or wrongly, as another symbol of government abuse of public funds,” Lacson said.

Senate President Francis Escudero ordered the review of the project after learning that the construction budget had already ballooned to P23 billion from the original  P8.9 billion.

Escudero requested a meeting with Lacson and former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to discuss his project review plan.

After that meeting, Lacson said he contacted Cayetano and suggested getting a briefing first from the Senate Coordination Team about the project’s status and other details.

Lacson also suggested that  Cayetano and Binay meet to discuss “some possible issues pertaining to the ongoing construction.”

“My offer to mediate was actually a request from Sen. Nancy after she visited me in my office with my two former staff who now work in her office. Sen. Alan actually agreed to both although the meeting has yet to be scheduled,” he said.