Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The camp of Makati Mayor Jun-Jun Binay is asking the Senate panel investigating the alleged corruption in the city to give him the list of questions he would be asked during the hearing.
In a letter response to the subpoena served on Binay on October 28, the mayor’s counsel said Binay should be provided with the questions to give him time to prepare answers and documents.
“We would like to respectfully request that our client be provided with the questions he will be required to answer and the area of coverage of the inquiry,” according to the letter sent by the law firm Subido Pagente Certeza Mendoza and Binay to the Senate committee on accountability of public officers.
“This will allow our client to prepare the pertinent information and documents needed to assist the committee in its conduct of inquiry,” added the letter penned by Atty. Claro Cerveza.
Cerveza added that under jurisprudence, “requesting answers in advance is a reasonable measure for a party invited to an investigation to satisfy himself that the inquiry is in aid of legislation and therefore within the constitutional power of Congress.”
Cerveza cited an April 2006 Supreme Court decision “Senate vs Ermita.”
“It is therefore jurisprudence that our client has the right to request from the subcommittee the information,” Cerveza said.
Binay was served a subpoena to appear before the Senate on October 30 but failed to attend.
Cerveza said Binay was wondering why he still needed to attend when he had explained everything when he attended the previous hearings.
“Considering that our client had previously appeared before the Honorable Sub-committee and already testified for several hours, he is at a loss as to what further he will testify,” Cerveza said.
The panel is hearing the alleged corruption in Makati involving mayor Binay and his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado has testified that both Binays earned kickbacks in various infrastructure projects in Makati when the Vice President was still the city mayor.
Mercado has also testified about a 350 hectare “Hacienda Binay” allegedly owned by Vice President Binay using dummy corporations.
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