‘VP Binay Wants to Face Senate Inquiry’

Vice President Jejomar Binay wants to attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing scheduled on Thursday in order to answer accusations of corruption against him, but hears conflicting advice from his closest advisers as regards the inquiry.

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) interim president and Navotas City Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco said he would persist in discouraging the Vice president from attending the Senate probe as long as he could. He added that there were those in the ranks of the opposition who were against Binay attending the Senate hearing on the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II and other other accusations of corruption hurled against him.

Tiangco also said that there were those who wanted Binay to face his accusers and answer the allegations before the Senate panel, report said.

“As of 7 p.m. yesterday (Monday), when we last met, gusto niya talagang pumunta. Pero ako, ayoko. I will not stop until I’m able to persuade him not to attend the hearing,” Tiangco told GMA News Online in a phone interview Tuesday.

Binay has said that he would consider attending the Senate inquiry if the Blue Ribbon Committee invited him. His camp has questioned the jurisdiction of the subcommittee that has so far conducted the inquiry, report said.

Senator Teofisto Guingona III, the chair of the Senate committee, then issued an invitation from the mother committee to Binay. He said that as of Monday, he has yet to receive any reply from the Vice President as regards the invitation, report said.

Tiangco said he would meet with Binay again later in the day to dissuade him from showing up at the Senate, report said.

Report said the Blue Ribbon main committee has formally invited Binay to appear at the Senate to shed light on the purported irregularities in the construction of the P2.7-billion Makati City Hall building II and answer other allegations against him.

Binay is facing allegations of owning properties in Batangas and Cavite. Binay’s camp has denied the accusations, dismissing them as part of a demolition job against him in connection with the 2016 elections.

Tiangco said he was against Binay attending the Senate probe because the purported demolition job against him and his family would certainly continue even if he’s able to explain before the senators, report said.

Source: GMA News Online

Image Credit: philnews.ph