Tiangco on Binay’s appearance in Senate probe: ‘It is a trap’

MANILA, Philippines―A spokesperson for Vice President Jejomar Binay said Wednesday that Binay’s appearance before the Senate blue ribbon committee to answer graft and corruption charges hurled against him is a trap which will turn into an “endless” word war with his accusers.

Navotas City representative and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) interim president Toby Tiangco said that Binay might not have been under scrutiny if the vice president decided not to run as president in the 2016 elections.

Navotas City representative and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) interim president Toby Tiangco. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

“It [Binay’s appearance in Senate probe] is a trap. First, it is not in aid of legislation anymore. Second, the reason why VP Binay is trusted because the people saw that he is serving the public. These Senate hearings will not be conducted if he decided not to run as president. He has been the mayor of Makati for the longest time and it is a question why the Senate took interest of him only recently,” Tiangco said in Filipino in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990 AM.

Tiangco also said that if Binay had not stated his desire to run as president, the senators involved in the Makati building investigation might have wanted to win Binay’s favor to support their political ambitions.

“If he (Binay) will not run as president, the senators might have wooed him to support their political ambitions. But since he (Binay) is vying for the presidency, they need to discredit him for he enjoys the highest trust rating from the public,” Tiangco added.

The UNA interim president said the strategy of the senators in the hearings was to tarnish Binay’s image as a “man of public service”. He also said that he has been dissuading the vice president from appearing before the Senate blue ribbon committee.

Binay’s camp has been mum if he will attend the November 6 Senate hearing which was arranged for him.

Meanwhile, Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III said that respect will be accorded to the vice president if he decides to appear in the hearing.

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