Binay allies ‘gatecrash’ Senate probe

UNA interim secretary general JV Bautista and Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco. SENATE POOL FILE PHOTO and INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Tension  arose at Thursday’s resumption of the Senate investigation into the controversial Makati City Hall 2 parking  building after two spokesmen of Vice  President Jejomar  Binay came  uninvited and tried to speak at the hearing.

Senate Majority Leader  Alan Peter Cayetano stopped lawyer  JV Bautista when he took the microphone and tried to make a statement before the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee.
“Mr. Bautista, you’re not a resource person.  May  I ask the Sergeant  at arms to remove…,”  said  Cayetano, who was  interrupted  by Navotas Representative  Tobias  Tiangco, who was  also at the hearing room and asked to be recognized by  the subcommittee.

But  the senator also stopped  Tiangco.

“Congressman is not also a resource person. They can write a committee but they can’t gatecrash,” Cayetano said of   Tiangco.

“He’s a congressman, he knows the rules of the Senate and the House if you wish to write the committee…but  you cant just raise your hands and come when you are not a resource person…” said the senator.

At this  point, committee chairman,  Senator Aquilino   “Koko” Pimentel III decided  to  suspend the proceeding.

 Originally posted at 10:18 am | October 30, 2014

RELATED STORIES

Antonio Tiu back in Makati Building 2 probe by Senate

Senate resumes Makati Building 2 probe

Trillanes with new evidence t‎o ‘erase doubts’ of Binay ownership of Batangas property

Makati funds used for farm development, says Mercado