MANILA — Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III questions Vice President Jejomar ‘Jojo’ Binay’s decision to use a newspaper ad to clarify issues surrounding him and his family instead of facing the Senate.
Binay bought a full-page ad space from a major daily newspaper in the Philippines to publish his side of the story, which were peppered with strong words attacking the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee.
The ad is entitled: “The Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee Report on Makati: Lies, Hearsay, Guesswork, Conjectures, and Violation of Law, Rules and Rights”
The subcommittee is currently investigating the allegations of corruption against the Vice President as well as his son, incumbent but contested Makati City Mayor Jejomar ‘JunJun’ Binay Jr.
In a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Pimentel said, “Hindi ko po alam bakit imbes na humarap na lang sa subcomittee, gumastos pa ng napakalaking halaga. Hindi ko po alam… Sa tingin ko baka nararamdaman nila ang effect nung partial report kaya naglabas na sila ng ad.”
(I don’t know why he [Binay] decided to spend a large amount of money instead of facing the subcommittee. I really don’t know… I think, they can already feel the effect of the [Senate subcommittee] partial report, that’s why they decided to release the ad.)
“Tanungin na lang natin sya bakit gumastos pa sya (Let’s just ask him why he had to spend),” Pimentel added.
Pimentel, who heads the Blue Ribbon Subcommittee, was recently on the receiving end of a strongly worded letter from VP Binay who dared him to ‘be a man.’
READ: Binay tells Pimentel: ‘Be a man’
For the newspaper ad released by the Binay camp Monday, check out the photo below courtesy of the Philippine Daily Inquirer via Twitter (@inquirerdotnet).
