Senate panel cites Mayor Binay, 5 others in contempt

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Teofisto Guingona III (center) shows to the media the list of persons cited by the Senate for contempt along with Makati City Mayor Erwin “Junjun” Binay during the Senate inquiry on the alleged Makati building overprice on Monday (Jan. 26, 2015). Also in photo are Senator Antonio Trillanes (left) and Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee Chairman Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. (PNA Photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – The Senate blue ribbon mother committee on Monday cited Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. and five other officials in contempt for their continued refusal to honor and respect invitations sent to them by the subcommittee to attend inquiry into the alleged anomalous construction of Makati City buildings.

The Senate panel also directed the Senate sergeant- at- arms to serve the detention order for the five Makati officials.

Aside from Binay, also cited for contempt include Eduviges ‘Ebeng’ Baloloy, Marjorie de Veyra, Atty. Eleno Mendoza, Engr. Line dela Pena and Bernadette Portollano.

The decision of the mother committee was based on the recommendation of blue ribbon subcommittee chairman Sen. Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel Jr. to cite the six officials and Prof. Tomas Lopez Jr. in contempt.

However, the Senate mother panel spared Lopez from detention order after he wrote the blue ribbon that he will appear in the future Senate hearings.

”For the rest, we have to apply the (Senate) rules,” Senate blue ribbon mother committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III said.

Besides Guingona and Pimentel, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was the only other senator present which was enough to provide a quorum needed to decide on the contempt recommendation.

Last Friday, Guingona issued an ultimatum to the seven Makati City officials but only Lopez came out with his response.

Meanwhile, Binay said in a televised press conference that he will abide with the Senate blue ribbon order.

”We will abide with the decision of the Senate. We will wait for them to serve the arrest warrant. I’m ready to be detained,” Binay said.

The Makati City mayor, however, maintained that the Senate blue ribbon subpanel has become selective in applying the Senate rules.

”I’m not asking for special treatment. All I’m asking for is fairness,” Binay said.

Binay is the son of Vice President Jejomar Binay who was also linked in the alleged overpriced Php1.6-billion Makati City Hall carpark building.