Chiz, Binay spokesmen in word war over Poe

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis Escudero and Vice President Jejomar Binay’s spokesman Rico Paolo Quicho engaged in a word war yesterday over the latter’s attack against the senator for defending Sen. Grace Poe over the disqualification case filed against her before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET).

Escudero slammed Quicho for describing the Senate as a “kangaroo court” in connection with the investigation of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee on allegations of corruption against Binay.

“His lack of civility and respect for the Senate as an institution is appalling and unbecoming of a lawyer,” Escudero said.

“He forgets that the daughter of the Vice President, Sen. Nancy Binay, is a member of the Senate, which he is calling a kangaroo court,” he added.

Last Monday, Escudero took potshots at Binay for his refusal to attend the Senate inquiry into the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II.

The senator did not name names when he issued a press statement on Sunday lauding Poe for facing her accuser, Rizalito David, during the preliminary conference on her citizenship case before the SET.

“Sen. Escudero forgot to mention that the SET proceedings allow the parties to review the evidence and cross-examine the accusers, something that is completely denied in the Senate subcommittee hearing,” Quicho said.

Escudero said Quicho should verify the Senate records so he could see for himself the number of times an invitation was extended to the Vice President to present his side in the allegations of corruption leveled against him.

Despite several attempts to invite him to the Senate to face his accusers, Escudero said Binay chose to ignore the Senate probe.

“He cannot claim that their camp was not given the chance to be cross-examined. They were given all the opportunities to give their side in the Senate hearing. But what did the Vice President’s camp do? They chose not to participate,” Escudero said.

“It was the Vice President who turned a blind eye to all these allegations. Not once did the public hear him rebut point by point these charges of corruption. Not in the Senate, not in any forum that he had attended,” he said.

“A true leader respects the institution. A true leader faces his accusers because he has nothing to hide. And that’s exactly what Sen. Poe showed when she attended the SET proceedings and faced her accuser,” Escudero added.