Senate panel will not compel VP Binay to attend probe –Trillanes

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Photo courtesy of Trillanes’ Facebook page.

MANILA — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said on Wednesday Vice President Jejomar Binay will not be compelled to attend the Senate inquiry on the alleged overpriced 11-storey car park building in Makati City.

”No, we will not compel anybody, but FVR before attended a committee hearing,” Trillanes said, referring to former President Fidel V. Ramos, in a media interview.

Trillanes has filed Senate Resolution 826 calling for a Senate inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the construction of the Makati City Hall car park building to the tune of Php 2.367 billion, an alleged overpriced of Php 1.56 billion.

The lawmaker said the Senate panel will focus first on the investigation and if the evidence would warrant, this will be used as evidence for an impeachment case.

”We will get there. Let’s deal with the investigation first. Once the investigation shows there’s indeed some anomalies committed by VP Binay, then we will use the same evidence for his impeachment, but let’s not divert the issue, let’s deal with the hearing first,” Trillanes said.

Last Tuesday, Sen. Nancy Binay dared his father’s critics to file an impeachment case if they have evidence that the Vice President has committed anomalies.

Vice President Binay has already denied the overpriced allegations, saying the Commission on Audit (COA) has cleared him already.

Binay claimed the Senate inquiry “is politically motivated” considering that he has already declared his readiness to run for President in the 2016 elections.

Trillanes, a senator since 2007, is reportedly seeking higher position in the 2016 polls.

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee has set the inquiry on Aug. 20.