Binay should face Senate probe, says Cayetano

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

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