Binay snubs anew Senate body’s corruption probe
Vice President Jejomar Binay is snubbing Tuesday’s resumption of the long-running investigation by the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee of allegations of corruption and ill-gotten wealth against him, his daughter said on Sunday.
Sen. Nancy Binay said in a radio interview that her father had already answered corruption allegations against him when he was mayor of Makati City in an affidavit he submitted to the subcommittee headed by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III.
Pimentel said Tuesday would be the Vice President’s “last chance” to air his side.
The Vice President has ignored invitations to appear in the Senate, saying its hearings supposedly in aide of legislation had turned into a demolition job against him after he announced he was seeking the presidency next year.
Immune from lawsuits
Last month, the panel issued a partial report recommending that corruption charges be brought against the Vice President, who is immune from lawsuits while he is sitting.
The senator also shrugged off a threat by Acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr. to file charges against her brother, suspended Mayor Junjun Binay, for allegedly continuing to pay salaries and other benefits to his longtime secretary, Eduviges Baloloy.
“Do it,” Senator Binay said, adding that she did not expect any “fair treatment” from Pimentel, or anyone else in the Aquino administration.
“This is so obvious from the subcommittee hearings. All those who are there have personal interests against the Vice President,” she said.
Whereabouts unknown
Baloloy, along with Vice President Binay’s aide, Gerry Limlingan, vanished after she was summoned to appear in the Senate.
The senator insisted that the family did not know the whereabouts of Baloloy and Limlingan.
Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Alan Peter Cayetano, who together with Pimentel form the committee, have declared plans to seek higher office in the 2016 presidential election, Nancy Binay said.
For them to win, they will have to make sure her father suffers a “technical knockout,” she said.
In its 22nd hearing Tuesday, Pimentel said the subcommittee would continue with questions on the alleged anomalous projects in Makati City, the Boy Scout of the Philippines-Alphaland deal, the Pag-Ibig Fund and University of Makati’s College of Nursing.–Christine O. Avendaño
