De Lima: Only PNoy, Ombudsman can stop NBI probe on Binays

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday said only President Benigno Aquino III or the Office of the Ombudsman can stop her from investigating Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family over their alleged unexplained wealth.

In a press conference, De Lima said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which will form a team to "quietly" investigate the Binay family, would refrain from releasing regular updates to the media on the matter.

"Para kasing ngayon, hindi pa kami nagsisimula, marami na kaming banat. Ayokong ma-distract ang NBI," De Lima said. The NBI is under the Department of Justice (DOJ).

"Since I decided na mag-imbestiga, hihinto lang ako kapag sinasabi ng Pangulo at ng Ombudsman," De Lima said.

She said unlike regular NBI investigations, the results of the probe on the Binay family would not go through regular preliminary investigation by the DOJ but will immediately be forwarded to the Ombudsman.

"We won't be recommending prosecution of cases. We will be submitting significant piecemeal findings to the Ombudsman," De Lima said.

De Lima said the NBI would not make recommendations on the Binay probe to avoid  touching the contentious issue on Binay's supposed immunity from suit. She said the report would only contain the NBI's findings.

The Binay camp had insisted he cannot be sued, while De Lima said only the state and the President are covered by immunity from suit.

Earlier in the day, De Lima met with the three whistleblowers against Binay, namely former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, lawyer Renato Bondal, and Barangay Olympia, Makati chairman Nicolas Enciso VI.

De Lima met with them to gather more information regarding the supposed irregularities involving the Binays that had not been discussed during their appearance in the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee hearings on the same topic.

De Lima said that during the meeting, the whistleblowers vowed to submit more evidence to support their allegations against Binay.

"Sa dami nung mga alegasyon at naging impormasyon, iyong mga nasabi na nila in the course of the Senate blue ribbon investigation at iyong mga hindi pa nasabi na narinig ko na kanina, pipiliin ko po kung ano ang mga alegasyon diyan na puwedeng imbestigahan. Mahirap kasi sakupin lahat," she said. —KBK, GMA News