Senators meet to discuss arrest order vs Junjun Binay

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Teofisto Guingona III together with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, chair of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, show the names of the seven officials including Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, who are cited for contempt for continued refusal to attend the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee’s hearing into the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall 2 parking building. JOSEPH VIDAL

MANILA, Philippines — Senators met on Wednesday to address the issues raised against the contempt citation and detention order by the blue ribbon committee against Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay and five other resource persons.

The  blue ribbon committee headed  by Senator Teofisto Guingona  III cited  the six in contempt and  ordered their detention for their continued refusal to attend its subcommittee’s investigation into the alleged  overpricing of the Makati City Hall 2 parking  building.

After attending one hearing, Binay and some city officials repeatedly declined the invitations of the subcommittee, questioning its authority to conduct the probe.

But acting Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto questioned the decision of Guingona’s panel, which prompted Senate President Franklin Drilon to refer the matter to the committee on rules headed by Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

Aside from Binay, the five other officials cited in contempt and ordered detained by Guingona’s committee were the following: Atty. Eleno Mendoza, Ms. Eduviges Ebeng Baloloy, Marjorie de Veyra, Engineer Line Dela Pena, and Bernadette Portollano.

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