Blue Ribbon Committee accepts Binay camp's challenge

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will invite Vice President Jejomar Binay to the ongoing investigation into the corruption allegations hurled against him.

During the resumption of the Senate probe on Wednesday, Committee chair Sen. Teofisto Guingona III accepted the condition set by Binay's camp that will make him consider appear at the hearings.

"Ang hamon ng kampo ni Vice President Jejomar Binay sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na kung ang mother committee ang mag-iimbita sa kanya, ay dadalo siya. Tinatanggap ng mother committee ang hamon ng kanyang kampo," Guingona said.

He assured Binay that the Blue Ribbon Committee will give him fair treatment, respect and opportunity to answer the accusations he is facing.

"Ang kailangan namin sa kanya ay katotohanan at pawang katotohanan lamang, inaasahan naming ibibigay niya ito," he added.

The Vice President is being investigated by a Blue Ribbon Sub-committee in connection with his alleged hidden wealth that he supposedly accumulated through kickbacks from various projects in Makati City, such as the costly city hall parking building.

Binay has refused to attend the hearings and criticized the sub-committee for being "politically motivated." He said Senators Alan Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV, the ones conducting the probe, only want to stop his presidential bid.

"First, the so-called legislative agenda of that investigation has been unmasked as simply an inquisition designed to bring disrepute to my person by the abuse of parliamentary rules," Binay said yesterday.Jejomar Binay that will make him consider to attend the investigation into the corruption allegations hurled against him.

Read: Binay: Probers fear revenge if I become president