Binay camp downplays Blue Ribbon report on graft raps

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday downplayed the recommendation of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee to file criminal charges against him and his son, dismissed Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay.

The charges stemmed from the alleged anomalous construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

The Senate subcommittee said there was “plunder through grand conspiracy” in the overpricing of the building, which was constructed when the elder Binay was mayor.

The subcommittee report was presented in the plenary on Monday, two days before Congress adjourns today.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, chairman of the subcommittee, previously handed out copies of the partial report to the media after getting the signatures of 10 senators who were members of the Blue Ribbon committee.

He only presented the partial report to the plenary for debates on Monday.

Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesman for media affairs, said the report was not new, noting that after more than 25 public hearings, what the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee presented to the plenary was just a partial report.

Salgado said Pimentel decided to present it to the plenary on Monday, in time for the survey period.

“It’s part of a chorus of attacks on the Vice President led by the Liberal Party (LP) candidate himself and his spokesmen at the Palace, Misters (Edwin) Lacierda and (Manuel) Quezon,” he said.

He said the subcommittee does not have the competence or the authority to determine criminal liability, adding the investigations “were made in aid of demolition, not legislation.” – With Marvin Sy