Miriam to Binay: Face Senate probe on 'overpriced' Makati building

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay must face the Senate investigation into the Makati City Hall II parking building or risk losing a "golden opportunity" to clear himself of corruption allegations, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said on Wednesday.

"If he does not honor the invitation [of the Senate], he would lose the opportunity to personally oppose all the statements that have been made against him in that same hearing," Santiago said in a televised press briefing.

Santiago said Binay should not fear getting rude treatment from senators since they are obliged to respect the rights of people attending the hearings in accordance with the rules of the upper chamber.

The senator said Binay, a lawyer, can always raise this matter if and when he attends the probe.

Santiago also sees nothing wrong with the investigation being politically motivated as claimed by Binay and his family.

"So what? Everything in politics is politically motivated, didn't you know?" the senator said.

Binay, who is facing a plunder complaint over the controversial building, has repeatedly denied making money from government projects in Makati City.

In one of the Senate hearings, former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado admitted benefiting from the allegedly overpriced building together with Binay.

"Kung ako ay nakinabang, imposibleng hindi nakinabang ang aking mayor," said Mercado, a former ally of the Vice President.

Mario Hechanova, former head of the Makati City government general service department, also accused Binay of manipulating project biddings to favor contractors like Hilmarc's Construction Corp., the contractor of the parking building.

Santiago doubts that Binay never knew the allegedly illegal activities under his watch.

"Kung mayor ka, ganoon pala kalaki ang mga ginagastos na pera, hindi ba nag-occur sa mind mo as an experienced politician na baka malaki ang suhulan diyan?" Santiago said.

"Ibig mong sabihin that in all this years, hindi niya alam? E di kulang ang pag-aruga niya sa kanyang siyudad," she added.

Santiago is pursuing a Senate investigation into Hilmarc's alleged monopoly of public works projects.

She said the construction firm bagged some 20 multi-million-peso government infrastructure projects in the last 10 years.