Makati Rep. Mar-Len Abigail Binay. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines– Makati City second district representative Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay on Monday lamented that the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, which is investigating the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2, is acting like an impeachment court seeking to malign the reputation of her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
She added that since the vice president position is impeachable, the Senate is trying to kick Vice President Binay out of office in order to file charges against him.
“Parang ginagawa na siyang impeachment proceeding. You have to remember that the position of the vice president is an impeachable position. Kahit sa [Office of the] Ombudsman, hindi siya pinapasagot. Hindi puwede ‘yun. Kasi dapat i-impeach mo muna bago ka makasuhan,” Congresswoman Binay said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.
(It seems that it [Senate hearing] is now an impeachment proceeding. You have to remember that the position of the vice president is an impeachable position. Even the [Office of the] Ombudsman does not invite him to answer the allegations. It is not permissible. You have to be impeached first before you are charged.)
A ‘setup’
Representative Binay also added that her father should not show up to the Senate investigation because it is a set up.
“Ang problema doon sa Senate hearing… tingnan mo naman ‘yung demeanor ng mga senators. It’s not as if they’re open-minded, in level playing field, they give you a chance to answer, hindi leading ‘yung questions, hindi siya setup,” Binay said.
(The problem with the Senate hearing…look at the demeanor of the senators. It’s not as if they’re open-minded, are a in a level playing field, or they give you a chance to answer, or the questions are not leading, or that it is not a setup.)
She also added that the fact that the senators themselves, and not the witnesses, are saying that the building was allegedly overpriced highlights that the investigation is not fair and very biased.
“Ang dating kasi if you watch the Senate hearing, they are already convinced. Sila na nga ang nagsasabi na overpriced eh, hindi na ‘yung witnesses ang nagsasabi na overpriced. Hindi fair ‘yung forum. Why would you still want to appear? If fair ‘yung forum, why not? Anyone could attend. Pero if it is demeaning, nanakot, very biased, why would you allow yourself to be part of a hearing na alam mong mababastos ka lang, mababatdtrip ka lang, maiiyak ka lang, hindi ka naman pakikinggan?” Binay added.
(If you watch the Senate hearing, they [senators] are already convinced. They are the ones that are saying that the building was overpriced. The forum is not fair. Why would you still want to appear? If the forum is fair, why not? Anyone could attend. But if it’s demeaning, threatening, and very biased, why would you allow yourself to be part of a hearing that will only demean you, embarrass you, make you cry and won’t even listen to you?
Congresswoman Binay, who is also a lawyer, said that if the Senate issues a subpoena for his father to attend the hearing, the vice president should go to the Supreme Court and ask an injunction.
Representative Binay said that although she believes that her father needs to answer the allegations hurled against him, he could do it through the Ombudsman or speaking to the public directly through a press conference.
“I agree that he needs to answer but not necessarily to the Senate. The Ombudsman already has court jurisdiction, or he can answer directly, magpa-presscon siya,” said Binay.
“I agree that he needs to answer but not necessarily to the Senate. The Ombudsman already has court jurisdiction, or he can answer directly by doing a press conference.)
Black propaganda
Congresswoman Binay also believes that the Senate investigation marks the “beginning of a series of attacks” against her family and that it will get worse this year.
“We expected that black propaganda will be intense this coming year. Hindi namin inasahan na ganito ka-intense and kung kanino manggagaling ang black propaganda,” Binay said.
(Last year, we expected that that the black propaganda will be intense this coming year. But we did not expect that it would be this intense and that who would start it.)
RELATED STORIES
Why is Binay afraid of Senate probe?
Binay made money from Makati building’