MANILA: Vice-President Jejomar Binay should just explain why the Makati City Hall II parking building was allegedly overpriced instead of complaining about the Senate investigation into the controversy, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said.
In a phone-patch interview with ANC yesterday, Trillanes said the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee will continue to probe the allegedly overpriced building even if Binay is now trying to get the sympathy of the public by claiming that the probe is a political attack as Binay has made known his intentions to seek the presidency in 2016.
Trillanes said Binay is now probably in “panic mode.”
“I don’t know why he is whining,” Trillanes said. “I think, the Vice President should just relax and watch the investigation as it unfolds because definitely, we will uncover the truth,” Trillanes said.
The senator also claimed that the Vice President of the Philippines has failed to explain the alleged overpricing.
“He can rant all he want. He can say that this is a demolition job or politicking. He can call it by whatever name, but we’re still waiting for his explanation,” Trillanes said.
Earlier, Binay called for a press conference and criticised the Senate probe for being a “politicised forum.”
Binay also hit back at senators, particularly Trillanes, for their demeanor during the probe. He alleged that Trillanes tried to intimidate a witness.
Binay said the words and actions of Trillanes and Senator Alan Cayetano during the Senate hearing prove that the investigation is not in aid of legislation, but a “politicised forum” that seeks to find criminal liability in the construction of the carpark building.
“I totally deny anything unless the Vice President will confirm a specific instance or special conversation because I would not know,” Trillanes said of Binay’s claims.
As to their supposed misconduct at the Senate hearing, Trillanes said the public will be the judge.
“I would like to believe that the limits of our demeanour during investigations are set by our constituents and how they receive such demeanour. If they don’t like what they see, then we will lose political capital in a snap,” Trillanes said.
The Vice President, the front-runner in the presidential surveys, believes that his political foes are out to bring down his poll ratings.
The former Makati mayor added that he is willing to face a “fair” investigation of the controversy.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
