Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay seen here with a guest at Noypitz Bar & Grill in Glendale, California in 2011 during a fundraising concert organized by members of Filipino-American media for typhoon Sendong victims. Photo: Benny Uy
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and a Senator Aquilino Pimentel III-led committee should apologize if allegations about an overpriced office and parking building in the city are not true.
In a statement, Binay said: “When the facts all come out and when the allegations are proven false, we ask nothing in return but a public apology from the senator who authored the probe and from the committee for allowing itself to be used as a venue for character assassination and political demolition.”
He said he and his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, “totally welcome” the investigation initiated by Trillanes.
Nonetheless, he asked Trillanes to treat decently the probe.
“Based on his statements, he has made up his mind and he intends to use the Senate hearing as a platform to malign the name of the Vice President,” he said.
He noted Trillanes even promised to present witnesses against his father.
“May we remind the senator that this is not a trial. It is supposed to be a hearing in aid of legislation,” he said.
Binay added the hearings are already unnecessary since there is already an official audit report.
“The allegations have already been discredited as baseless by an intensive review made by Commission on Audit in response to a request made by the complainants. The Ombudsman has already asked the parties to comment. This means that the investigation process has started. A Senate inquiry would therefore be unnecessary,” he said.
He reiterated the building is not a parking building but one that houses offices and parking floors. (MNS)