Sen. Nancy Binay and Sen. Alan Cayetano. SENATE PRIB PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday said he could also file an ethics complaint against Sen. Nancy Binay for her alleged “unethical behavior” during the July 3 hearing on the new Senate building’s supposedly ballooning costs.
Speaking to reporters at an ambush interview, an unfazed Cayetano even joked about Binay looking “guilty” even if she was the one who filed a complaint before the Senate’s panel on ethics.
“Actually, the picture was sent to me. This is the picture. It’s my first time to see someone file a complaint, but they are the ones who look guilty,” he said in Filipino.
Cayetano also said that Binay was being disruptive during the hearing.
“It’s not allowed to disrupt the hearing, especially if you’re not a member. The chairman is talking, yet you want to speak first, even if he already gave you time. And then you’ll walk out in that manner. Even Sen. Miriam did not do that; she notified the chairman,” he said in Filipino.
He said Binay is just confusing the people.
“She knows that nothing will happen with that ethics case. In fact, I can also file an ethics case because what she did was unethical,” he added.
Cayetano pointed out that if the price is only the issue, she can correct it.
“What did Sen. Binay do? She started going around, gossiping and spreading rumors, including claims that our numbers are wrong,” he said.
He also said that Binay is welcome to attend the Senate panel accounts’ next hearing on the new Senate building.
Cayetano, however, urged Binay to follow the rules.
“But if you disrupt the hearing, I won’t take that sitting down,” he warned.
READ: Nancy Binay files ethics rap vs Alan Cayetano: ‘I can’t let it pass anymore’
In her 15-page complaint filed before the Senate panel on ethics, Binay said Cayetano committed slander after he repeatedly acted in an “unparliamentary manner and used offensive, derogatory, and improper language” during the public hearing held July 3.
She also claimed that Cayetano committed the following acts:
- Abuse of rights
- Violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability
- Violations of The Magna Carta of Women
- Conduct unbecoming of a public officer and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service
Binay said she is praying that Cayetano be made accountable and liable for all “his unparliamentary conduct.”
She said she’s also hoping that appropriate sanctions and penalties be imposed upon Cayetano to “commensurate to the gravity of his offenses.”