MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay’s camp on Tuesday said the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee’s hearing on the corruption allegations against Binay is a waste of time and resources of the Senate.
Vice Presidential Spokesperson for Political Affairs Rico Quicho questioned the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee probe lamenting that the hearing which has been going on for more than a year only results to repeated narratives that only exhaust the Senate’s time and resources.
Quicho added that aside from the recurring issues surfacing during the probe, the investigation also lacks enough evidence.
“Pang-25th na po ito. Parang nakikita po natin na parang bina-bicycle na lang po ‘yong narrative. Ibig sabihin, parang paulit-ulit na lang po ‘yong naririnig natin doon. Pero, kulang naman sa ebidensya. Ang sinasabi nga po natin ay salat na salat po ito sa sustansya sapagkat ang naririnig naman po natin ay ‘yong grandstanding ni Senator Trillanes, ‘yong perjurious statements ng mga resource person nila,” Quicho said in an interview.
“Paulit-ulit po ‘yan. Kaya nga po ang panawagan natin: Bakit po pinapayagan ‘yan ng liderato ng Senado gano’ng nakikita po ng ating mga kababayan na nasasayang lang ang oras at resources ng Senado?” he added.
Quicho said they already requested to stop reopening the hearing which was initially scheduled in November 2015. He said the Senate body involved in the hearing uses its power in the investigation that is why Binay’s legal counsel already filed damages case against Binay’s detractors.
“Alam ninyo po, nagpahayag na po tayo ng ating request na sana po ay itigil na ito. Ngunit, alam naman po natin na talagang ‘yong kapangyarihan ng Senado na mag-imbestiga. Nire-respeto naman po natin ‘yon,” Quicho said.
“Ang matingkad na matingkad po rito [ay] makikita na natin ‘yong pagmamalabis ng kapangyarihan ng mismong Senado sa pag-iimbistiga kaya naman po mayroon na rin tayong mga ginawang hakbang, legal steps kung tawagin. Nag-file na po tayo ng damages case laban dito sa mga nagsisinungaling laban kay Vice President Binay. At, umuusad na po ito. Pinayl (file) po natin ito sa regional trial court at umuusad na po ito,” he explained.
Binay's camp said they already expect that the Senate panel will relive and dig in the issues already answered since the vice president also ranks high on presidential surveys.
Quicho said the vice president opted to instead focus on going rounds in various provinces to inform them of Binay’s platform which include alleviating poverty, addressing unemployment issues, improving education and health programs.
“Pilit pong binubuhay ‘yong mga nasagot ng issue. Pero ito po’y ine-expect natin kasi sinasabi nga po natin kasi sa patuloy na pagtaas ng survey, kami na naman po ang pupuntiryahin. Para po alam ninyo na. Ganito po ata talaga ang pulitika,” Quicho said.
The Senate panel lead by Sens. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Antonio Trillanes IV reopened on Tuesday the probe against Binay on the alleged overpricing of the 11-storey Makati City Hall II parking, the 22-storey Makati City Hall building and related anomalies.
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