‘Final call’ on Mayor Binay: Face Senate probe or risk getting arrested

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III on Friday issued a “final call” on Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay and other city officials to face the Senate or face possible arrest.

“I am issuing a final call on Mayor Junjun Binay and other concerned officials of Makati City to respect and heed the summons of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee for them to appear at the hearings being led by Senator Koko Pimentel,” Guingona, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee said in a statement.

“I make this final call as an effort on my part to avert a situation where the Senate blue ribbon committee would have to issue an Arrest Order for Mayor Binay and other officials concerned.”

“I want to make it clear to all parties concerned that there are rules, procedures and precedents that pertain to the continued refusal by persons being summoned by the committee to attend its hearings,” he further said.

Guingona said his committee “cannot and will not tolerate the refusal of such parties to obey its summons,” pointing out that it was within the power of the body to order their arrest and detention.

“As chair of the committee, I am bound by my sworn duties to protect the interest of the public and the processes of the Senate. The exercise of the power to issue and arrest order is part of that protection,” he said

“This is a final call. I express the hope that the sound counsel of friends and colleagues would encourage Mayor Binay and other parties concerned the heed the summons of the subcommittee,” the senator added.

Guingona said his committee will meet on Monday to decide on an appropriate next move.

“It is also my hope that Mayor Binay would have taken the more prudent step of heeding and respecting the summons by then,” he said.

Binay and some city officials appeared once before the subcommittee investigating the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall 2 parking building. But without advanced copies of questions of senators, the mayor and the city officials—like Vice President Jejomar Binay–refused to heed the subsequent invitations by the subcommittee.