Emotional Congresswoman Binay appears at Senate to support brother

MANILA, Philippines – An emotional Makati Representative Abigail  Binay came to the Senate  on  Tuesday to  “confront”  erstwhile   friend, Senate Majority Leader  Alan Peter  Cayetano.

Binay  arrived at the Senate before the  blue ribbon committee resumed  its hearing at 10 a.m. into the  alleged  overpriced parking building in Makati  involving Binay’s  brother Mayor Jejomar  Erwin “Jun-Jun” Binay  and their father, Vice President  Jejomar Binay.

“First of all andito aka para suportahan ang aking kapatid  at syempre also to confront Senator Alan. Kasi hindi ko napanood yung huling  hearing, I heard that he mentioned my  name,”    she told reporters.

Since she could not join the hearing, the  lady  lawmaker  stayed  at the gallery inside the session hall, saying she would just simply approach Cayetano  either before or after the hearing. Cayetano  has not yet arrived.

Cayetano claimed  that Congresswoman  Binay  was   behind    the filing of graft charges  against him and wife, Taguig City  Mayor  Lani Cayetano, over the  alleged misuse of his pork barrel funds.

Congresswoman  Binay said  she was  surprised by the senator’s allegation.

“Oo nagugulat ako kasi bakit nya ako sinasangkot sa plunder case kaya sabi ko, mukhang magkaibigan naman kami, ano ba namang tawagan nya ako e since hindi nya ako tinatawagan mukhang kelangang ko pang lumapit sa kanya,” she said.

The  congresswoman admitted that    the complainant in  the Cayetanos’ case was her law school  classmate  but insisted that she was not behind  the  charges.

She turned  emotional   when asked about  Mayor  Cayetano, saying she was deeply hurt  because they have been  like sisters.

“Ang tawag ko ho kay Mayora Lani is kapatid, ganun ho ami kalapit kaya masakit  ho yung ginagawa nila sa akin,”  a tearful congresswoman said.

“Personal kong pinapasok sila sa buhay ko at masakit ho yung ginagawa nila sa akin. Kahit tinitira si VP, ang kapatid ko, wala ho silang narinig sa akin kasi nga ho magkaibigan kam pero ngayon ako na dinadamay nila. Kailangan na ho yata akong lumaban, kailangan nah o akong magsalita,” she further said.

 Originally posted at 10:42  am | August 26, 2014