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Cayetano: Evidence not enough to wrap up probe on VP Binay
By AMANDA FERNANDEZ, GMA News
(UPDATED 7:20 P.M.) Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee had yet to gather enough evidence against Vice President Jejomar Binay, and was not yet ready to give a recommendation to the Office of the Ombudsman.
At a press briefing in Taguig City, Cayetano said the subcommittee was only 50 percent done in its inquiry on the allegations of corruption against Binay. These include the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II and his alleged ownership of a property in Rosario, Batangas, that was not declared in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
"Tapusin natin ang imbestigasyon, para kapag i-file ang report, at walang makapagreklamo sa lahat ng side," Cayetano said.
Cayetano was reacting to Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago's statement that the subcomittee should wrap up its inquiry as it already had enough evidence against Binay.
"I respectfully disagree na it's time to wrap up the hearing because marami pang ebidensya at mismo ang city of Makati officials ang hindi nagsu-submit," Cayetano said.
No delay
Senator Antonio Trillanes, one of the three senators that have consistently attended the Senate investigation on the allegations against Binay, said the inquiry wasn't getting in the way of the Ombudsman's investigation into the issues.
"For the information of everyone, the evidence and other documents re: the Makati Parking Building gathered by the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee have already been submitted to the Ombudsman as early as September," Trillanes said in a statement.
A plunder case is pending with the Ombudsman against Binay and his son, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., in connection with the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II.
The complainants, Renato Bondal and Nicolas Enciso IV, were among the resource persons in the Senate inquiry.
Trillanes said new evidence of corruption against Binay had cropped up in the hearings.
"[The] focus has shifted to other anomalies committed by former and current city hall officials of Makati, hence the need to continue with the investigation," Trillanes said.
Ombudsman's turn
Binay, a strong contender in the 2016 presidential election based on surveys, has repeatedly belied the allegations, saying his critics who have testified before the Senate subcommittee have yet to present evidence that would stand up in court.
He also described the allegations as part of a demolition job to keep him from winning the presidency in 2016.
Cayetano, meanwhile, blamed Binay for the delay in the inquiry.
"Ang problema, kaya tumatagal, hindi naga-attend 'yung mga resource persons," he said. "Isa pang indikasyon 'yun ng guilt o pagtatago ng Vice President."
He said Binay may have been delaying the inquiry so that it will reach 2016.
"Para sa kanya siguro, great escape ang pagiging pangulo," he said. "He will be a bad president, he will be worse than [former President Gloria Macapagal] Arroyo... Kung walang tinatago, ba't ka nagtatago?" —KBK/NB, GMA News
At a press briefing in Taguig City, Cayetano said the subcommittee was only 50 percent done in its inquiry on the allegations of corruption against Binay. These include the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II and his alleged ownership of a property in Rosario, Batangas, that was not declared in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
"Tapusin natin ang imbestigasyon, para kapag i-file ang report, at walang makapagreklamo sa lahat ng side," Cayetano said.
Cayetano was reacting to Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago's statement that the subcomittee should wrap up its inquiry as it already had enough evidence against Binay.
"I respectfully disagree na it's time to wrap up the hearing because marami pang ebidensya at mismo ang city of Makati officials ang hindi nagsu-submit," Cayetano said.
No delay
Senator Antonio Trillanes, one of the three senators that have consistently attended the Senate investigation on the allegations against Binay, said the inquiry wasn't getting in the way of the Ombudsman's investigation into the issues.
"For the information of everyone, the evidence and other documents re: the Makati Parking Building gathered by the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee have already been submitted to the Ombudsman as early as September," Trillanes said in a statement.
A plunder case is pending with the Ombudsman against Binay and his son, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., in connection with the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II.
The complainants, Renato Bondal and Nicolas Enciso IV, were among the resource persons in the Senate inquiry.
Trillanes said new evidence of corruption against Binay had cropped up in the hearings.
"[The] focus has shifted to other anomalies committed by former and current city hall officials of Makati, hence the need to continue with the investigation," Trillanes said.
Ombudsman's turn
Santiago on Thursday said the Senate subcommittee could already wrap up its inquiry and turn over the matter to the Ombudsman.
"[The subcommittee] can close its hearing and endorse the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman," she told reporters in press conference at Quezon City.
"Marami na ang ebidensya. Dapat ibigay na doon," she added.
Santiago, a former regional trial court judge, said the Senate panel has already fulfilled its mission to expose the alleged overpricing of the P2.7-billion city hall complex and the controversial Batangas property.
"It may be better to present the files and evidence to the Ombudsman… [to look into the ] criminal facet of the case," Santiago added.
The Senate subcommittee began its probe in August.
Cause of delay Binay's camp on Friday agreed with Santiago.
“The Senate has better use of its time than to just merely investigate in aid of demolition. Let the Ombudsman take jurisdiction and let the Senate help move the country forward,” Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, Binay’s spokesperson for political concerns, said in a text message to GMA News Online.
Binay, a strong contender in the 2016 presidential election based on surveys, has repeatedly belied the allegations, saying his critics who have testified before the Senate subcommittee have yet to present evidence that would stand up in court.
He also described the allegations as part of a demolition job to keep him from winning the presidency in 2016.
Cayetano, meanwhile, blamed Binay for the delay in the inquiry.
"Ang problema, kaya tumatagal, hindi naga-attend 'yung mga resource persons," he said. "Isa pang indikasyon 'yun ng guilt o pagtatago ng Vice President."
He said Binay may have been delaying the inquiry so that it will reach 2016.
"Para sa kanya siguro, great escape ang pagiging pangulo," he said. "He will be a bad president, he will be worse than [former President Gloria Macapagal] Arroyo... Kung walang tinatago, ba't ka nagtatago?" —KBK/NB, GMA News
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