Binay should face Senate probe, says Cayetano

Vice President Jejomar Binay (left), his son Makati Mayor Junjun Binay (right) and 23 others face plunder case over the alleged “unconscionable overpricing” in the construction of an 11-story parking building (inset) that the city government supposedly built for P1.56 billion. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines –  Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano now also wants Vice President Jejomar Binay to face  the Senate investigation into the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall parking building.

While questioning  Binay’s son, Makati Mayor Junjun-Binay, during the  hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee on Tuesday, Cayetano said  it would be better if the  Vice President himself  would appear before the committee to  answer the questions that the mayor could not answer during the proceedings.

The Vice President was the mayor of  Makati when the construction of the 11-story parking building started in 2007. The project, which was completed  in 2013, was said to be overpriced and is now the subject of plunder and graft charges filed against the Binays.

“…In this hearing , you’ll be satisfied that we all treated you  fairly but I hope you understand, mayor, if your father wants be president just like  anyone of us in this room, anything na ibato sa atin obligasyon natin sa tao na sagutin at hindi sabihin, pulitika lang ito..(anything  that will be thrown at us, it’s our obligation to the people to answer and not say this is just  politics),”  Cayetano said.

“So at this point, I don’t know the protocol if you can invite the Vice President… but marami kang hindi nasagot dahil panahon nya (you  have not  answered a lot of things  because  it was  during his time). Let me just say  that I’m open for him to come here and  to explain to the public.”

Cayetano then recalled how  Binay had also pressed then  President and now Pampanga Representative  Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to explain and go to Congress to address the  issued being hurled at her.

“So I think, Mr. Chair,  let’s be fair. Makapunta dito, let’s all explain and we’ll  owe them an apology kung sino mang gumawa ng resolution (whoever  filed  this resolution),” he said.

The resolution he was referring to was the one filed by Senator  Antonio Trillanes IV that prompted the Senate probe. Both Cayetano and Trillanes belong to the Nacionalista Party and are also reportedly eyeing a higher post in 2016.

Trillanes had also called on the Vice President to appear before the Senate probe.

“But what if it’s true, and if it’s true, it can mean either two things – kumita sila or pwede din yung kanina hindi alam yung mga nasa  ilalim pala nila kumikita na and everything.”

But Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel  III,  who presided over the hearing , was not keen yet on calling the Vice President.

Pimentel said he would  rather finish first the testimonies of other witnesses  before inviting  the Vice President to the hearing.

“Tapusin na po muna yan and if ever the Vice President let’s say accepts our invitation klarong-klaro na po yung issues na sagutin nya para direct to the point nap o tayo,” he said, adding  that he finds nothing wrong  inviting the Vice President.

“ I will double check the protocol pero (but) my common sense tells me there’s nothing  insulting about inviting somebody,  especially if his name has been mentioned in a negative light mas gusto pa nga nyang i-invite sya para he’ll have the opportunity to also explain,” Pimentel added.

 Originally posted at 03:50 pm | August 20, 2014

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