Binay on Senate probe: An inquisition

MANILA, Philippines - It’s an inquisition, not an investigation in aid of legislation, Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday as he sought public understanding on why he would not face a Senate probe on corruption allegations against him.

The Vice President said parliamentary rules and human rights are being trampled upon in the Senate probe led by his political opponents, with the sole purpose of destroying his reputation.

Binay declined to attend the Senate probe despite a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that 79 percent of Filipinos wanted him to appear before the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee, which is investigating the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II.

“I ask our people to take a closer look at the so-called Senate subcommittee investigation to see what it really is,” Binay said in a statement.

“I ask our people to examine closely the direction the so-called investigation is taking. So far, they have resorted to humiliating me and my family with such viciousness I have not seen employed by the Senate before,” he further said.

Binay said attending the hearing would set a precedent where the rights of witnesses are trampled in an inquisition passed off as an inquiry in aid of legislation.

Binay described the Senate probe as “an inquisition designed to bring disrepute to my person by the abuse of parliamentary rules.”

“The legislative character of the investigation is brazenly replaced by a route of inquiry that is judicial in nature but masquerading as in aid of legislation,” he said. 

Binay said senators leading the probe have gone out of their way to prejudge and humiliate him.

“Some senators have already prejudged me, mocked me, belittled me, and even threatened me and they’ve already asked all the questions they have to ask. They’ve exceeded the limits, is that an investigation?” Binay said. 

Binay said the ongoing Senate subcommittee investigation shows that civil rights can become the first casualty in politics.

“The so-called investigation at the Senate sends a dire warning to everyone: that for the sake of politics, civil rights are the first casualty,” he said.

“I pity the ordinary government employees and citizens who are being hammered, the effect on their daily affairs, the scorn and ridicule they are being subjected to that no private individual should suffer in a democratic society,” he added.

Binay challenged his accusers to present hard evidence that would back up their claims that he pocketed millions of pesos in kickbacks for various infrastructure projects in Makati when he was still mayor.

“If there are serious accusations being peddled by my enemies, the truth could be proven in a way that civilized societies do — with hard, unassailable evidence,” he added.

He said allegations have been thrown against him because his critics want him out of the 2016 presidential elections. 

“Those investigating me are simply there because as they admitted they do not want me to even launch a presidential campaign, obviously fearing that should the people support me they would be made accountable for their misdeeds and abuse of power,” Binay said. 

Two of the subcommittee members – Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV – have earlier expressed intention to run for higher posts in the 2016 elections.

Binay, who has announced his plan to run for president, has been leading in surveys for the presidential elections.