Binay open to conciliation with Cayetano under new ethics rules

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay said on Friday that she would be willing to submit to the new rules that the Senate Ethics Committee may set after she filed an ethics complaint against Senator Alan Cayetano.

READ: Nancy Binay-Alan Cayetano conciliation meeting in the offing

“If a conciliation meeting is part of the process to officially tackle the ethics case that I filed against Sen. Cayetano, then I am willing to submit to the new rules adopted by the Committee. Kung iyon ang kailangan unahin bilang bahagi ng proseso, susunod po tayo,” Binay said in a statement.

(If that is what needs to be done as part of the process, we will follow.)

“Sa usapin ng pag-aayos, sino ba naman ako para magsara ng pintuan? Likas po sa pagiging Kristiyano ang maging mapagpatawad,” she added.

(On the topic of conciliation, who am I to close the door? Forgiving is in the nature of being a Christian.)

The dispute between Binay and Cayetano stemmed from a recent Senate hearing probing the New Senate Building being constructed in Taguig City.

The two argued over the expense of the building, with Cayetano saying that it was marked at P23 billion while Binay insisted it was only at P21 billion.

The heated debate then caused Binay to walk out of the room, and several days later, she filed an ethics complaint against Cayetano.

READ: Binay, Cayetano trade barbs at Senate hearing

Cayetano likewise added that he was also open to reconciling with Binay, but said that the probe must continue.

Senate ethics panel head Senator Francis Tolentino then said that there would be a conciliation meeting between the two.

READ: Total cost of New Senate Palace now at P29B?