Sen. Nancy Binay. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Despite perceived animosities between their families, Senator Nancy Binay said she has no plan of initiating a Senate inquiry into Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s alleged misuse of his “pork” barrel funds.
“Hindi ko gagawin iyan. Bakit ko naman gagayahin iyong tingin ko’ng maling gawain ni Senator Trillanes (I will not do that, why would I follow what I think was Senator Trilllanes’ wrong doing),” Binay said when asked over DWIZ on Friday if she would initiate an investigation in the chamber on the issue.
She was referring to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who initiated a Senate inquiry into the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall 2 building involving her brother, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Jun-Jun” Binay and their father, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Trillanes and Cayetano, both members of the Nacionalista Party, have been calling on the Vice President to appear before the Senate and shed light on the issue.
Senator Binay also strongly denied insinuations that her family was behind the graft charges filed against Cayetano and wife, Taguig City Mayor Lani, over the alleged misuse of the senator’s “pork” barrel funds released to him from 2007 to 2009 as well as the purported overpriced purchase of multi-cabs in 2012.
Cayetano’s camp claimed the complainant in the case, Roderick Vera, was a law school classmate of the Vice President’s daughter, Makati Representative Abi Binay.
While she said she has not yet asked her sister if it was true that she and Vera were classmates, Senator Binay was certain that her family would not destroy one’s reputation just to become popular.
“Gusto ko lang hong sabihin, hindi ho gagawin ng aking pamilya. Unang una, hindi ho kami pinalaki ng aming mga magulang na manira ng ibang tao para maging sikat (I would like to say that my family won’t do that. First and foremost, we were not raised to destroy one’s reputation just to become popular),” she said.
Besides, she pointed out that the two families were close friends, noting that the Cayetanos were godparents of one of the children of Mayor Jun Jun Binay and Congresswoman Abi Binay.
“So isipin ninyo na lang ho ganoon ho ang trato ng pamilya Binay sa pamilya Cayetano. Di ba kapag ninong o ninang ka, you are considered as second parent to your children. So ganoon ho namin pinagkakatiwalaan ang pamilyang Cayetano (So just imagine how the Binay family treated the Cayetano family? When you are a godparent, you are considered as second parent to your children. So that’s how we trust the Cayetano family),” said the lady senator.
She pointed out that the problem did not start from her family.
“Never ho naming siniraan ang pamilya Cayetano. Sila ho itong paulit ulit na kung ano anong paratang ang binabato sa amin,” she pointed out.
Senator Binay though remained confident that the two families could settle their differences, noting that in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies.
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