VP Binay to answer corruption allegations Thursday

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay will deliver on Thursday his much anticipated public address on the corruption allegations hurled against him.

In an advisory, Binay's office said the public address will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Binay was supposed to give the address on Monday, but he postponed it to attend to the needs of the areas hit by Typhoon "Luis."

The Vice President and his son, Makati City Mayor Erwin "Junjun" Binay, are facing a plunder complaint over the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall II parking building.

In the recent Senate hearings into the controversy, former Makati City officials accused Binay of rigging public biddings and receiving 13 percent of each local project as kickbacks during his term as Makati mayor.

Binay has denied the allegations but he has yet to appear in the Senate hearings to defend himself.

The Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee has formally invited Binay to attend the probe, but the Vice President told reporters on Monday that he is still thinking about his decision.

"Basta't magpapaliwanag ako at hindi ko aatrasan ho 'yan lalo na't nasa katotohanan ako. At tsaka ang tao ay sinusuportahan ako dito sa ginagawa sa akin," Binay said.