MANILA — Makati Mayor Jun Binay on Monday said that he will receive and accept the detention order issued by Senator Teofisto Guingona III for not attending the hearings of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee on the alleged building overprice.
The mother committee chaired by Guingona has approved the recommendation of Senator Aquilino Pimentel III to hold Binay and six other officials in contempt, and has directed the Senate sergeant-at-arms to serve the detention order to Binay and to six others and to coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) if necessary.
“We will wait for the Senate Sergeant at Arms to go to the city hall. Hindi na nila kailangang umakyat dito, sila po ay sasalubungin namin. Tatalima po kami sa naging desisyon ng (They don’t have to come here, we will meet them halfway. We will heed the decision of the) senate blue ribbon committee,” Binay said in press conference held at Makati City Hall.
“I deeply respect the Senate as an institution. But it was not I who had tarnished its dignity. The three senators and their so-called witnesses have been the ones destroying its good name and integrity as an institution,” Binay said.
However, the local chief executive said he was saddened by the decision of the committee, but he had to fight for his principles and for justice.
“The decision of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee pains me, but fighting for what I believe is right in order to put a stop to the abusive use of power by some senators is a matter of principle,” Binay said, adding that “Let’s be fair. Second to have due process this is what I’m asking for but the subcommittee declined.”
Around 3,500 Makati residents gathered at city hall grounds to show their support to Mayor Binay.