Binay camp slams Escudero, says VP is being tried in ‘kangaroo court’

Senator Francis Escudero and Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay slammed Senator Francis Escudero anew for saying that other presidential aspirants have evaded answering allegations hurled against them.

In a statement, Binay’s spokesperson for political affairs Atty. Rico Quicho said that Escudero is turning a blind eye to the way his colleagues in the Senate is treating the Vice President during the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee hearings.

Quicho said that unlike Senator Grace Poe, who is given the opportunity to defend herself in the case filed against her before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET), Binay is allegedly being tried in a “kangaroo court.”

“Nagbubulag-bulagan si Sen. Escudero. He conveniently forgets to mention that the Senate Electoral Tribunal allows the parties to review the evidence and cross-examine the accusers, something that is completely denied the Vice President in the Senate subcommittee hearings,” Quicho said.

The Binay spokesperson alleged that during the Senate hearings, witnesses are being permitted to present unsubstantiated claims with the help of the senators.

“Kaya nga sa higit na isang taon, hinayaan nilang magsinungaling at manlinlang sila [Ernesto] Mercado at iba pa. Iyong mga pabor sa amin, tinatakot (For the past year, they allowed Mercado and other witnesses to lie and deceive. Those witnesses who are on our side are being harassed),” Quicho added.

Binay has earlier filed libel charges and a civil suit against Mercado, his accusers, and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

READ: Binay files damage suit vs Trillanes, Cayetano, Morales, Inquirer

Quicho said that Escudero, the reported running mate of Poe in next year’s polls, should know that hitting Binay “with unfounded accusations will not make other candidates ready for the presidency.” JE