Trillanes urges Binay to attend Senate probe: ‘I won’t bite him, I promise’

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines — “I’m not a wild animal, I won’t bite him,” Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was invited to attend a Senate hearing on Thursday to address all allegations being hurled at him.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee being headed by Senator Teofisto Guingona III will convene on Thursday to accommodate Binay, who has been at the center of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall 2 parking building controversy.

The parking building controversy was being investigated by the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee but its inquiry has expanded to other irregularities allegedly committed when Binay was still the mayor of Makati City.

Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV. PHOTO by Kristine Sabillo/INQUIRER.net

As of posting, however, it was not certain yet whether or not the Vice President would face the Senate probe.

Trillanes said Binay should prepare for an intense grilling from the senators should he decide to attend its hearing.

“We will make sure that he stays there, he sits there for at least six hours and that’s being generous kasi madami kaming itatanong sa kanya. He should clear his schedule, he should cancel his appointments, talagang marami s’yang ipapaliwanag,” the senator said in press conference on Wednesday.

(We will make sure that he stays there, he sits there for at least six hours and that’s being generous because we have so many questions to ask him. He should clear his schedule, he should cancel his appointments, because he has a lot to explain.)

Told that Binay might be worried that the senators could not be controlled by the chairman of the committee when he faces them, Trillanes said: “Bakit naman ako kokontrolin? I’m not a wild animal, hindi ko s’ya kakagatin and I can promise him that. But my questions probably would bite him,” he added.

(Why is there a need to control me? I am not a wild animal; I won’t bite him and I can promise him that. But my questions probably would bite him.)

If the Vice President would snub the hearing, Trillanes said the subcommittee will proceed with its hearing, this time on the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Science High School building.

“Meron lamang mga bagong information na ilalabas (We will just present new evidence) in relation sa corrupt activities ni Vice President and we will be presenting the overpricing of the Makati Science High School building,” said the senator.