Palace to Binay camp: We can’t tell Senate to stop probe

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday reiterated that it cannot tell the Senate to stop its probe on Vice President Jejomar Binay’s involvement in the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building 2.

JV Bautista, spokesman of Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

“We cannot dictate on the senators who deem it necessary to conduct hearings of whatever nature as we have seen in the many hearings they have conducted such as hearings on Ebola, VFA (Visiting Forces of Agreement), Makati Parking Building, etc. as hearings are within their legislative prerogatives,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a text message to reporters.

Lacierda was reacting to UNA interim secretary general JV Bautista’s comment over the radio that the administration should exert its efforts on pressing issues instead of the probe on Binay.

The Secretary said the government is already addressing such issues.

“Insofar as the concerns that they have raised such as Ebola, the Executive Department is addressing all those concerns and providing measures to resolve those concerns,” he explained.

Binay has been on the defensive since being accused of amassing ill-gotten wealth. Former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado claimed that the Vice President’s family was able to develop a 350-hectare estate in Batangas through kickbacks from buildings constructed in Makati.

However, Binay has repeatedly declined to attend the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee hearings to answer the allegations, claiming that the lawmakers have already prejudged  him. Instead, he has issued statements and challenged subcommittee member Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to a debate.

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