Poe signed Senate panel draft report backing raps vs Binays—Pimentel

Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Grace Poe . RAFFY LERMA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senator Grace Poe has signed the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee draft report that recommends the filing of plunder charges against Vice President Jejomar Binay, his son Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III told Radyo Inquirer 990 AM Friday.

Pimentel, chairman of the subcommittee, said that as of Thursday, four senators have signed the draft report.

“Ang naka-signed ako, Senator (Antonio) Trillanes (IV), Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Grace Poe,” Pimentel told radio anchors Jake Maderazo and Arlyn dela Cruz.

READ: Draft Senate report backs plunder raps vs Binays

It was Trillanes who initiated the Senate probe on the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall 2 parking building. Trillanes and Cayetano actively participated in the hearings while Poe has not attended any of the hearings.

Pimentel said Poe signed just two days after he filed the draft report to its mother committee, the Senate blue ribbon committee being headed by Senator Teofisto Guingona III.

“Pumirma! Kapa-file ko lang nyan Wednesday, naka pirma na agad noong Friday so mabilis yun… ibig sabihin binasa agad,” he said, referring to Poe.

(She signed! I just filed it Wednesday, it was already signed Friday…meaning , she immediately read it)

Asked if he was surprised that Poe signed the draft report, Pimentel said: “Hindi ako surprised kasi…inaa-update ko s’ya sa resulta kasi seatmates kami. Magkatabi kami ni Grace.. kinukwentuhan ko s’ya so updated po si Senator Grace Poe kaya nu’ng sinabi kong may partial report na ako, binasa niya, after few hours pumirma na siya,” he said.

(I am not surprised…because I was updating her about the results because we are seatmates. We sit beside each other [at the session hall] I told her what was happening so Senator Grace Poe is updated that’s why when I told her I already have a partial report, she read it and signed a few hours later.)

Aside from him and the three senators who signed the draft report, Pimentel said he expects three more committee members to affix their signatures by early next week.

“So pito na agad. Dalawa na lang magiging mother committee report na yan and I can freely discuss it,” Pimentel added.

The senator said the draft report needs to get at least nine signatures of Guingona’s committee composed of 17 members before it becomes an official report, which can be filed at the plenary for either rejection or approval. IDL

READ: 4 senators ink partial draft report on ‘overpriced’ Makati carpark building