Binay Camp: Senate Probe Costs P50M a Day

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s camp on Thursday said that the Senate was spending P50 million for every hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee looking into the alleged corrupt activities of the second highest elected official in the country, GMA News online report said.

“Ang Senado po ay gumagastos ng P50 million a day para mag-operate sa bawat hearing,” Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla told reporters.

“Kung they spend another 100 days, that’s…P5 billion ang kailangan nilang gastusin para lang sa imbestigasyon na ‘to. Hindi ba dapat andami nating kayang tulungan sa P50 million a day?” Remulla added.

Remulla, however, wasn’t able to elaborate on his allegation. Calls and text messages weren’t immediately returned, report said.

Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, chairman of the blue ribbon committee, denied the allegation.

“It has no basis. Whenever we conduct BRC hearings, it is scheduled on regular working day and no extraordinary funds were spent,” Guingona told GMA News Online in a text message.

Guingona said they did not spend additional pay for the salaries of staff and employees and no extra payment for the electricity because that is the normal functions of the Senate, report said.

Guingona also said that they are not paying for live media coverage.

“We always practice prudent spending of public funds,” he said.

Source: GMA News Online