Binay tags senators ‘bullies’ for ordering arrest of resource persons

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday branded senators as “bullies” for ordering the arrest and detention of resource persons who failed to attend the Senate hearings on corruption allegations against him.

The Senate on Tuesday issued the arrest and detention order of 14 resource persons, including Binay’s trusted alleged bagman and dummy, Gerry Limlingan.

Binay’s trusted aide, Eduviges “Ebeng” Baloloy, was not included in the latest list of resource persons ordered arrested by the chamber though the same arrest and detention order had been issued earlier against her.

But Binay explained that the resource persons, some of them officials and employees at the Makati City Hall, could not attend the hearings either because they had not received an invitation by the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee or they were just waiting for a questionnaire that would be sent to them.

“So, hinihintay nila ‘yun (questionnaire). Kasi nga ang ugali ng mga senador na ‘to mambu-bully, tinatakot, ang ginagawa nila mambubully. May mga tanong sila, “Ano ba itatanong niyo?” ‘Yung iba naman ilang beses ng nakatestigo, ba’t kailangan pa? Talagang ‘yan ay nagdadrama lang. ‘Yun kung paano sila mambully sa mga humaharap doon,” he said in an interview in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, on Wednesday, a transcript of which was emailed to reporters.

(So they are waiting for the questionnaire. Because these senators are known for bullying, and threatening [their resource persons]. What do they want to ask? Some of them had already testified so what else do they need from them? This is all drama.)

“Tandaan po ninyo hindi po ito imbestigasyon, ito ho ay in aid of legislation. Kaya nagtataka ka itong mga senador na ito mga kung anu-anong sinasabi, “magnanakaw, guilty of graft and corruption”. Yung guilty husgado nagsasabi niyan hindi ho sila. ‘Yun ay usapan lang in aid of legislation. Tsaka wala hong mga kasalanan ‘yung sumisipot doon, resource person ho ang tawag doon,” he further said.

(Remember, this is not an investigation, this is in aid of legislation. That’s why I’m surprised by what these senators are saying — corrupt, guilt of corruption. Only the court can say who is guilty or not. The hearing is just in aid of legislation. And those who appeared in the hearing have not done anything wrong, they are called resource persons.)

Asked if he thinks the resource persons ordered arrested were evading arrest, Binay said: “Hindi ko alam ‘yan (I don’t know that).”

The Senate probe against Binay was initiated by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. AU