Senate told to follow their own rules

Senate President Franklin Drilon. Photo courtesy of Drilon’s official Facebook page.

MANILA – The Makati City government hits back at Senate President Franklin Drilon saying that not even the senators are above the law.

“Drilon says that no one is above the law. We agree, and that includes the senators,” Joey Salgado, city spokesperson, said in a statement.

The statement was made after Drilon said on Friday that the Senate will compel Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. and other city officials to testify in the coming hearings.

This was following Binay’s refusal to attend the senate hearings despite the summons to an inquiry into the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II.

Salgado added that under the rules of the Senate, “neither Drilon nor the subcommittee can cite anyone in contempt and order their arrest.”

He was referring to the investigations conducted by the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee headed by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III involving the construction of the P2.28-billion parking building.

“It has to be the whole committee,” Salgado said, referring to the blue ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Teofisto Guingona III.

However, Drilon said that if the Binays continue snubbing the summons, “the committee will be compelled to detain them until they testify.”