VP Binay, allies no-show at Senate hearing

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay and the three people who purportedly received kickbacks for him did not attend on Thursday the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall II parking building.

The Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee learned that Binay did not accept the invitation sent to him while his son, Makati City Mayor Erwin Binay, formally questioned the jurisdiction of the Senate panel.

The elder Binay's personal secretary, Ebeng Baloloy, also made a similar motion while his finance officer, Gerry Limlingan, was also absent.

The vice president's kickbacks from government projects in Makati City were allegedly divided to three partitions. Those intended for family use were delivered to his son while the funds allocated for his personal use were handed to Baloloy. Limlingan allegedy received the funds for election campaign purposes.

"Siguro dismayado ang marami nating kababayan sa attendance lalo doon sa tatlong binanggit na tumatanggap ng pera allegedly para sa pamilya Binay," Sen. Alan Cayetano said during the televised hearing.

Also absent was incumbent Makati City Vice Mayor Romulo Peña Jr. The Senate panel learned that the official had another appointment to attend.

City officials invited to the Senate probe were also a no show.

"There is no high-ranking or responsible official from the city of Makati today," said Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, chair of the Blue Ribbon sub-committee.

The chairman and president of Hilmarc's Construction Corp., the contractor of the controversial parking building, were also absent since they are in South Korea,

Cayetano urged the personalities absent to attend the hearing set on October 2 and not wait for a Senate subpoena.

"Parating sinasabi ng mga Binay na paulit-ulit itong hearing, humahaba, pero hindi naman sina-submit ng city officials at ng ibang contractors ang ating mga hinihingi," Cayetano said.