Senate blue ribbon committee to commit whole Thursday hearing to VP Binay

The Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Thursday, November 6, will be committed to Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel said Sunday.

"I believe 'yung buong hearing kay VP lang, 'yun ang pagkakaintindi ko," Pimentel, chairman of the Blue ribbon subcommittee, said in a radio interview over dzBB.

"Kung pupunta si VP Binay, yung hearing para kay VP," Pimentel, chairman of the Blue Ribbon subcommittee, added.

The subcommittee is investigating the corruption allegations against the former Makati mayor, including the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II.

Binay is also accused of owning a 350-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas.

The lawmaker added that the Vice President will be treated with courtesy.

 "Automatic naman 'yun...pero hindi ibig sabihin madali ang tanong. Hindi naman pambabastos kung mahirap ang tanong," he said.

Last Wednesday the blue ribbon main committee, in a letter signed by its chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III, formally invited Binay to "make an appearance in a public hearing... to shed light and deliberate" on the issue.

Binay's camp has yet to the announce if Vice President will attend the hearing.

The Vice President earlier said he would consider attending the hearing if the main committee, and not the subcommittee, made the invitation. — Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/BM, GMA News