VP Binay still mum on attendance in Senate inquiry

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday kept his cards close to his chest on whether he would attend on Thursday the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee hearing on the alleged overpricing of the P2.7 billion Makati City Hall Building II.

The Senate invited Binay to attend the inquiry so that he could answer the allegations that he and his family benefited from the building's allegedly padded construction costs and from other contracts entered into by the Makati local government when he was still mayor of the city.

 

"Malayo pa naman [ang sub-committee hearing], sa Huwebes pa naman 'yun e. Pag-ukulan muna natin ng pansin 'yung pinasala ng Bagyong Mario," Binay told reporters at the sidelines of the 2014 Bagong Bayani Awards.

 

"Wala namang magiging bagay kung sabihin ko… kung ano ang gagawin ko," he added when he was pressed for a categorical answer.
 

Binay said the sub-committee hearing was a sham. 

 

"Ayaw ko namang sabihin imbestigasyon [iyon], dahil hindi naman pag-iimbestiga 'yun…. 'Yun hong ginagawa ng Senado sila ho lamang ang nag-dedesisyon," Binay said.

 

Binay stressed that accusations made against him were made in bad faith.  He said the issues were in reaction to his much-publicized plan to run for President in 2016.
 

Preparations 

 

In a highly anticipated speech last week, the Vice President denied the allegations of corruption in connection with the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II.  Binay said that the "circus-like" Senate probe failed to uncover any substantial evidence on the alleged corruption.

 

However, critics of the Vice President said he failed to provide a detailed explanation of the issues raised.

 

Binay said he prepared well for his speech last week.
 

"Sabihin ko sa inyo, maraming dasal ang ginawa. Sa 28 taon na naglilingkod ako sa pamahalaan, 'yun ata ang pinaghandaan ko nang maige," he said.

 

Binay said that he had expected the criticisms that came after his speech.

 

"Alangan namang walang babatikos nun. Alam mo may kasabihan, for every action, there's a reaction," Binay said.

 

"'Yun mga talagang, may sasabihin ka e nagbibingi-bingihan. May sasabihin ka e, nagbubulag-bulagan. Kasama 'yun e. [Ako] naman e pagpapaliwanag sa gustong mapakinggan ang paliwanag," he added. —NB, GMA News