Palace: Some people want to pit executive vs. Senate

President Benigno Aquino III's spokesman on Friday said there seems to be a deliberate attempt to pit Malacañang against Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III in connection with the Senate probe on corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay.

 

At a press briefing, presidential spokesman Secretary Edwin Lacierda said some parties may be trying to strain Aquino's good relationship with the Senate.

 

"I believe there’s an attempt to parang pag-awayin kami at saka ang senador, e ang ganda naman ng relasyon natin with the Senado," Lacierda told reporters.

 

GMA News Online asked Lacierda who was behind this attempt, but he had not replied as of posting time.

 

The Palace official also maintained that Aquino had no intention to meddle with the Senate investigation against Binay.

 

"Unang-una, nirerespeto natin ang independence ng Senado. Pangalawa, ang mga senador ay separate republics, independent kingdoms," Lacierda said.

 

On Tuesday night, Aquino called on the Senate Blue Ribbon panel to present all evidence against Binay immediately instead of on a piecemeal basis, so that those liable could already be charged and those innocent could already be cleared.

 

Binay, a close friend of Aquino's family, is being investigated for allegedly receiving kickbacks from the construction of the  Makati City Hall Building II, as well as for his alleged hacienda in Batangas.

 

Pimentel, who chairs the subcommittee investigating allegations against Binay, however said that Aquino should keep his hands of the Senate probe on the vice president. —NB, GMA News